WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.: If the General Tire 100 at the Glen hadn’t had a halftime break, Connor Zilisch would likely have lapped the entire ARCA Menards field.
After winning the pole, the driver of the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet led the first 21 circuits and held a 15.564-second lead over William Sawalich at the scheduled break.
Though Sawalich took the lead to restart the race momentarily on Lap 22, Zilisch quickly regained the point and checked out to a 12.778-second advantage at the finish.
“I had a really good car underneath me and it made my job a lot easier,” Zilisch said. “Once I got out on those restarts, I’d run hard for two laps and then just cruise to the end of the race or the end of the break.
“That was a nice race after a lot of stressful races we’ve had this year, to have one that came a little bit easier. It was a credit to my team and everyone around me that made it possible.”
Zilisch’s victory, his fifth in six ARCA starts this season, was redemption after losing the lead and the race to Jesse Love in the final two circuits at the Glen last year. While the loss still stings, Love, his friend and former roommate, spotted for Zilisch during the race.
“I had four spotters out there—including Jesse,” Zilisch said. “It was all spotter, I think he would say.”
With help from his spotters and crew chief Shane Huffman, who in 2006 and 2007 drove the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet that Zilisch will pilot in his Xfinity Series debut at the Glen on Saturday, the 18-year-old Weddington, N.C., native put on a clinic at the iconic 2.450-mile circuit in just his second start at the track.
“I was definitely not giving it all I had,” Zilisch said. “I did learn from last year after breaking the sway bar to stay off the bus stop curbs a little bit after taking the lead. I was staying safe where I could.
“We had a tire cord in practice earlier in the day from kind of running out into the middle of the rumble strips, so I was trying to stay off of that and manage my stuff. I knew I had enough speed running at 80-percent to take me to Victory Lane. I just had to execute.”
In Victory Lane, not only did the No. 28 PRG team came to celebrate with the driver, but so did many of the principals who have a vested interest in Zilisch’s future. Trackhouse Racing president Ty Norris was one of the first to arrive. He shook his head and said, “I can’t believe this.” Norris repeated that sentiment to the driver and added a hug once Zilisch finished his initial hat dance.
Trackhouse owner Justin Marks joined the party and captured the moment on the stage with the driver he signed to a development contract in January.
“There are so many kids that have talent,” Marks said. “It’s like just going fast isn’t going to get it done any more. To me, it’s the rate of adaptability. How fast is he able to learn new situations with new cars and new tracks. His rate of adaptability is really what stands out with him.
“That’s really important in evaluating talent that can make it to the top.”
Zilisch did both on Friday, in qualifying and the race. Before the on-track activity, Zilisch was presented a new Bell helmet from two generations of Red Bull drivers—Scott Speed and Shane van Gisbergen—to commemorate the young racer’s recent sponsor signing for his upcoming Xfinity Series effort in 2025.
“They came here today to surprise me with the helmet and all the gear,” Zilisch said. “It was really cool. They did a good job of keeping it a surprise and making it so special. To win my first race with the Red Bull helmet on is something I’ll always remember.”
Just three years after Zilisch made the transition from karting to cars, he will make his maiden run for JR Motorsports on Saturday—his first of four races with the team this year.
“I’m excited to race tomorrow, to go against guys that are proven and have won a lot of races on road courses like SVG (van Gisbergen), AJ (Allmendinger) and “Willie B” (Byron),” Zilisch said. “There will be tough competition out there tomorrow. It really excited me to know where I stack up and be able to learn.
“That was kind of like 41 laps of practice—kind of preparing myself for tomorrow. But tomorrow is going to be a real challenge and I have to be prepared for that. Tomorrow is the big show.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
