Zilisch Crushes Xfinity Field For Watkins Glen Pole

Connor Zilisch celebrates the NASCAR Xfinity Series pole at Watkins Glen Int'l. (Rusty Jarrett/Nigel Kinrade Photography)

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Connor Zilisch delivered a message loud and clear to the rest of the NASCAR Xfinity Series field in qualifying Saturday morning at Watkins Glen Int'l: catch me if you can.

The 19-year-old from Charlotte, N.C., set down a blazing fast lap time of one minute,10.884 seconds around the 2.45-mile natural road course, more than a half second up on the next fastest driver, JR Motorsports teammate and road course ace Shane van Gisbergen.

Zilisch’s No. 88 Registix Chevrolet looked fast off the hauler, topping the practice charts, and even though his fastest time in that session was two tenths slower than the one he put down in qualifying, that lap still would have been good enough for pole.

Watkins Glen marks Zilisch’s fifth pole this season, and the second road course in a row where he will roll off from first. It’s also the second year in a row where he earned the pole at the Glen, topping qualifying last year in his Xfinity Series debut and going on to win the race.

Zilisch was shocked by how far clear he was afterward compared to the remainder of his competitors.

"Honestly, I was surprised the field wasn't closer," admitted Zilisch. “I think they'll definitely be closer in the race. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but clearly, we have a fast Chevrolet and I'm super proud of this JR Motorsports team and the work they've put in lately. It takes a lot to beat the field by over half a second on one of these tracks, and I couldn't do it without the equipment they put underneath me.

“I’m excited for the race later, and hopefully we can defend the win from last year like we defended our pole in qualifying.”

Alongside Zilisch is someone who is no stranger to road course success in van Gisbergen. ‘SVG’ has won the last three NASCAR Cup Series road course races, and four of the seven he’s attempted in his career.

He also took three road course wins a year ago during his full-time Xfinity Series campaign with Kaulig Racing, as well as the Chicago (Ill.) Street Race in July with JR Motorsports over Zilisch.

This is certainly not the first time Zilisch and van Gisbergen have clashed this year, making contact late in the going in Chicago and battling nose to tail to the very end the week after at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

Now, they’ll renew that competitive fire once more in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.

Taylor Gray put in another quality time-trial performance and will roll off third, with Iowa winner Sam Mayer alongside him. Past and present Joe Gibbs Racing drivers make up row three, with Sammy Smith and William Sawalich starting fifth and sixth, respectively.

Nick Sanchez earned his best career starting position at a road course in seventh, with Kaz Grala making a part-time start for Sam Hunt Racing this weekend and leading group one of qualifying before ending eighth overall.

Defending series champion Justin Allgaier and Austin Hill, fresh off his suspension for intentionally wrecking Aric Almirola at Indianapolis (Ind.) Motor Speedway two weeks ago, filled out the top 10 starters.

Three cars did not set a time in qualifying: Christian Eckes, Garrett Smithley, and Austin J. Hill. Those drivers will all start from the back of the 38-car starting field for the 200-mile event.

Broadcast coverage of the Mission 200 at the Glen airs at 3 p.m. ET, live on The CW, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.