
Connor Zilisch looks on prior to Saturday night’s Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Photo: Matthew T. Thacker/Nigel Kinrade Photography)
LAS VEGAS — Under the radiant lights of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Connor Zilisch once again showed why he’s been one of NASCAR’s most captivating young stars in 2025. The 19-year-old driver came within striking distance of his 11th NASCAR XFINITY Series victory of the season in Saturday night’s Focused Health 302, ultimately settling for a hard-fought runner-up finish in the opening race of the Round of 8.
Starting second, Zilisch wasted little time asserting himself among the frontrunners. Smooth, deliberate, and calm behind the wheel, he looked right at home on the 1.5-mile speedway that has become one of the season’s defining battlegrounds for championship contenders. Through the opening laps, he managed the balance between aggression and patience, staying within arm’s reach of the race leader while taking mental notes on how his car would behave as the night evolved.
By the end of Stage 1, Zilisch crossed the line in second, backing up his strong qualifying run with a steady and calculated performance. The track, slicked by the desert’s evening chill and the build-up of rubber, demanded precision, something Zilisch has demonstrated all season long. His ability to read the air, adjust his line, and find speed in both grooves reflected a driver far beyond his years.
“It was great to come back here again,” Zilisch said afterward. “I felt like I did a lot better job than I did the first time, even though the first time I probably should have finished third. I was more consistent, but still, I’m not where I want to be. I didn’t do as good of a job there at the end as I could have done. Those small mistakes, missing the line in [Turns] 3 and 4 and just little things that I can do to be better.”
The night wasn’t without its challenges. During the second stage, Zilisch battled through a tight-handling car as the track transitioned into its longer-run rhythm. His JR Motorsports crew, led by veteran crew chief Mardy Lindley, worked to fine-tune the balance during pit stops, helping Zilisch climb back into contention. Despite the ebb and flow of cautions and green-flag runs, the North Carolina native maintained his composure, not forcing the issue but never losing touch with the front of the field.
When Stage 2 concluded, Zilisch brought home a third-place finish, again demonstrating his consistency under pressure. But as the laps wound down in the final stage, the stakes rose and so did Zilisch’s determination. Restarting near the front, he dug deep into his notebook of experience from earlier in the race, holding his own against a mix of seasoned veterans and fellow playoff contenders.
In the closing laps, Zilisch found himself in a duel for the win. Lap after lap, he inched toward Aric Almirola after losing the lead, at times appearing to have the momentum off Turn 2 or the closing bite through Turn 4.
But every time he drew close, the airflow and tire wear seemed to neutralize his charge. Still, his relentless pursuit kept fans on edge, the neon glow of Las Vegas reflecting off his No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet as he chased another milestone in his breakout campaign.
As the checkered flag waved, Zilisch crossed the line second, just a few car lengths shy of another victory. It wasn’t the win he wanted, but it was a statement performance that reaffirmed his place among the elite in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.
“Yeah, it was fun to race against those guys,” Zilisch reflected. “I thought it was all clean. And we just raced hard and I probably could have been a little nicer to the 19 [Aric Almirola], but track position was so important. I was going to do everything I could to keep the lead. So we’ll keep our heads down and hopefully be able to race those guys a few more times this year.”

Connor Zilisch’s pursuit of his 11th win of 2025 must wait after finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Christopher Vargas | Overbey Photogrraphy)
For Zilisch, Saturday’s runner-up wasn’t just another strong finish — it was proof of growth, maturity, and the kind of adaptability that defines championship-caliber drivers. The young phenom has quickly learned how to balance ambition with patience, how to accept near-misses without losing confidence, and how to translate frustration into fuel for the next race.
His ability to compartmentalize setbacks, even minor ones, has been a hallmark of his meteoric rise this season. Whether it’s a late-race caution that shifts momentum or a minor line adjustment that costs a tenth of a second, Zilisch maintains the mindset of a driver learning with every lap.
“Can’t let that stuff get to you,” he said. “So I’m excited. I love racing at speedways. It’s a challenge, and it’s just a unique kind of skill set that you have to have to be really good at it. So I’m excited to go there next week. And fingers crossed the same thing doesn’t happen that happened last time I was there.”
That next stop, another superspeedway in Talladega, another chance at redemption, looms large for Zilisch and the No. 88 team. As the XFINITY Playoffs march deeper into the fall stretch, momentum and precision are everything. The Las Vegas effort delivered both, even if the top spot slipped away.
Behind Zilisch’s poise on track is the guiding hand of Mardy Lindley, whose experience has been invaluable in shaping the young driver’s evolution. Together, they’ve forged a partnership built on trust, communication, and an unrelenting drive for excellence.
“Mardy’s been awesome,” Zilisch said. “He’s got a lot of experience and knowledge, and he’s just very seasoned as a crew chief, and he’s definitely on his way to becoming one of the big names in our sport. So to be a small part of his journey and for him to be a small part of mine definitely means a lot to me. And I just hope we can close out what we’ve done this year.”
That mutual respect has translated into incredible results with 10 wins, 19 top fives and 21 top 10s, and consistent performances in nearly every type of track environment. On a night where small mistakes made the difference, Zilisch’s appreciation for his crew and his growth as a driver stood out just as much as his speed.

Connor Zilisch dueled Aric Almirola tenaciously for the win in Saturday night’s Focused Health 250 at Las Vegas. (Photo: Nigel Kinrade | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
The final laps of the Focused Health 302 were a study in composure. With tire wear increasing and the high line coming in, Zilisch’s car flirted with oversteer on corner exit, forcing him to adjust his throttle application while maintaining the aggression needed to challenge for the win. He spoke afterward about missing his marks in Turns 3 and 4, the kind of self-awareness that separates good drivers from great ones.
Even with the slight imperfections, his performance was clinical. From managing restarts to adapting to track temperature swings, Zilisch executed at a high level throughout the night. His runner-up finish didn’t just preserve valuable playoff points — it solidified his path toward a potential Championship 4 berth.
The Las Vegas result also underscored how far Zilisch has come since his earlier visit to the desert this season. Then, he was fast but raw, learning the nuances of air management and tire conservation. Now, he’s a refined, measured racer capable of battling veterans and thriving under playoff pressure.
As the night wound down and the teams packed up under the bright Vegas lights, there was a quiet sense of accomplishment in Zilisch’s tone. He wasn’t celebrating — not yet — but there was no sign of disappointment either. He’s a driver who knows where he stands and where he wants to go next.
In a year that has seen him dominate short tracks, superspeedways, and road courses alike, the Focused Health 302 served as another reminder that Zilisch’s ceiling is still rising. With the season nearing its crescendo, he and Lindley’s No. 88 team have positioned themselves as one of the most formidable combinations in the Xfinity garage.
He may not have found Victory Lane in Las Vegas, but his message was clear: he’s not slowing down, not second-guessing, and certainly not satisfied. Every lap, every race, every duel for the lead is another step toward becoming one of NASCAR’s future greats.
As the playoff picture tightens heading into the next race, Zilisch remains focused, grounded but hungry, confident but not complacent.
Saturday night’s runner-up might not have come with a trophy, but it carried something even more valuable: the reassurance that Connor Zilisch’s pursuit of perfection is alive and thriving under the lights of NASCAR’s biggest stages.
Rob Tiongson is a sports writer and editor originally from the Boston area and resides in the Austin, Texas, area. Tiongson has covered motorsports series like NASCAR and INDYCAR since 2008 and NHRA since 2013. Most recently, Tiongson is covering professional basketball, mainly the WNBA, and women's college basketball. While writing and editing for The Podium Finish, Tiongson currently seeks for a long-term sportswriting and sports content creating career. Tiongson enjoys editing and writing articles and features, as well as photography. Moreover, he enjoys time with his family and friends, traveling, cooking, working out and being a fun uncle or "funcle" to his nephew, niece and cat. Tiongson is an alum of Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and St. Bonaventure University's renowned Jandoli School of Communication with a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism.
