Connor Zilisch’s rookie season has been nothing short of historic. The 19-year-old phenom continued his dominant run on Saturday, not only extending his winning streak but also securing the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season crown for JR Motorsports. The victory at World Wide Technology Raceway was a statement that cemented both his and his team’s place in the record books, delivering Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s organization a milestone that further solidifies its legacy.
How Did a Rookie Sensation Secure a Milestone for JR Motorsports?
The Connor Zilisch No. 88 Express made another stop in Victory Lane after capturing its ninth win of the season. Continuing his remarkable rookie campaign for JR Motorsports, Zilisch secured his fourth straight victory in Saturday’s Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway.
This triumph marked the 10th victory of his career and his seventh win in the last 11 races.
Additionally, Zilisch’s win set a new team record with 16 victories in a single season for JR Motorsports. The victory ensures the team has now scored at least one win at every track the NASCAR Xfinity Series has visited during its history.
The Charlotte native also joined an elite company by becoming just the third driver in Xfinity history to win four consecutive races, alongside legends Sam Ard and former JR Motorsports standout Noah Gragson, who is now a Cup Series regular for Front Row Motorsports.
In the wake of Zilisch’s win, FOX Sports senior journalist Bob Pockrass noted, “JR Motorsports now has a team-record 16 Xfinity wins this year … Zilisch-9, Allgaier-3, Smith-1, Suarez-1, SVG-1, Larson-1.”
Reflecting on the achievement, Zilisch remarked, “We’ve won four in a row and seven of the last eight for the WeatherTech team at JRM. Thank you to WeatherTech. It’s awesome to come here to St. Louis, a lot of fans here, and thank them for showing up tonight.”
While Zilisch celebrated, it was a tough night for his teammates. Defending NXS champion Justin Allgaier ran near the front for much of the evening but was caught in a late-race restart crash, which dropped him to 28th. Sammy Smith suffered a similar setback and finished 33rd, while Carson Kvapil fell victim to a mechanical issue on his opening pit stop and was scored 37th.
Overall, Zilisch led four times for a race-high 121 laps to win by 1.506 seconds over runner-up William Sawalich of Joe Gibbs Racing, who needed a victory to make the playoffs. After 26 of 33 races in the 2025 NXS season, JR Motorsports continues to dominate the owner standings with 2,069 points.
The team’s depth and consistency are highlighted by its multiple entries in the top ten. Richard Childress Racing and JGR are trailing JRM closely, both surpassing the 2,000-point mark, while Haas Factory Racing remains a competitive force.