AUSTIN, Tex: Connor Zilisch’s amazing 2024 season continued on Friday afternoon at Circuit of the Americas when the 17-year-old Trackhouse Racing development driver scored the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole for Saturday afternoon’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas.
Zilisch’s impressive debut began the moment practice began on Friday when he wheeled his No. 7 Austin Hatcher Foundation Chevrolet to the fastest lap.
The 12 Hours of Sebring winner backed up his practice with his No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet truck in the first round of qualifying by setting a new Truck Series track record. Advancing to the final round of qualifying, the Mooresville, N.C. native wheeled to a lap of at miles per hour – setting a new NASCAR Truck Series record by winning the pole in his first-ever race.
“It’s truly a testament to all the people around me, Josh Wise, Scott Speed, they work so hard to just make me a better race car driver and better person,” said Zilisch. This Spire Motorsports team, Brian Pattie, everybody back at the shop, killer, killer job.
“This thing was just basically driving itself; I don’t even want to take any of the credit for it. It’s awesome to come here in my first race and be on the pole. Thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way. It’s an honor to be on the pole in my first race, but we still have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”
Saturday’s 42-lap Truck Series race is just the start of a busy day for Zilisch.
Immediately following the Truck Series race, he’ll hop on a plane and head east to participate in Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series East season-opener at Five Flags (Fla.) Speedway for Pinnacle Racing Group.
Zilisch is running for the series championship for the Mooresville, N.C.-based team.
RELATED: XPEL 225 Starting Grid
Corey Heim will start second for TRICON Garage, followed by teammate Taylor Gray, Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez, and Cup Series invader Ross Chastain to round out the top five.
Las Vegas winner Rajah Caruth will start sixth, followed by IMSA driver and former IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth in seventh, Tanner Gray eighth, points leader Tyler Ankrum in ninth, and Grant
Enfinger rounded out the top-10.
Notables in qualifying included Layne Riggs (11th), Dean Thompson (16th), Ty Dillon (18th), Stefan Parsons (19th), and Lawless Alan (20th).
IndyCar star Marco Andretti will make his first Truck Series start of the season, qualifying his No. 04 Roper Racing Ford F-150 on speed in 28th.
Carter Fartuch will make his Truck Series debut for Reaume Brothers Racing 29th on the grid.
The trucks of Ben Rhodes and Thad Moffitt did not post a lap in qualifying. Rhodes was enduring a mechanical issue with his No. 99 TSport Ford F-150, while Moffitt, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty was experiencing power steering issues with his No. 46 Induction Innovations Chevrolet.
With 35 trucks entered for a 36 starting field, no trucks failed to qualify.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].
