Connor Zilisch achieved his first victory in the ARCA race last Friday, only in his second ever start.
Connor Zilisch (Via IMAGO)
As a promising young driver in the stock car racing world, Connor Zilisch is currently participating part-time in the Truck and ARCA Mendes Series, while also racing full-time in the LMP2 class in the IMSA Sports Car Racing Series. Last Friday, he secured his first win in NASCAR, specifically in the ARCA series.
Representing the No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet team, Zilisch emerged as the victor in the General Tire 150 at Dover Motor Speedway. Remarkably, this win occurred in only his second ever ARCA race. However, controversy surrounded his victory as he had to cause a collision with the race leader in order to secure the win.
After the race, fans were treated to some amusing scenes on the victory lane. Once Zilisch’s win was confirmed, the officials at Dover quickly removed the Busch Lights beer cans that were placed in mini-fridges. These cans were there as a result of sponsorship from Busch Lights. However, they had to be removed because Zilisch, being only 17 years old, is not legally allowed to advertise alcoholic products. This incident brings to mind the controversy surrounding , who at the age of 16 appeared in a Truck Series race with a tobacco company as the title sponsor, leading to NASCAR implementing age restrictions for drivers.
When discussing his race and performance at Dover, Connor Zilisch mentioned that he felt intimidated during the first 70 laps of the race. He admitted to being unsure of what to do in the early stages of the race as he found himself stuck in the middle of the pack. However, with the assistance of his team, he managed to make his way to the front.
The young driver still has much to prove and contribute to the NASCAR scene. It is highly likely that the victory lane will need to be cleared again this season, as the 17-year-old possesses the skill and resources to consistently contend for race wins.
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