Because the eyes of the nation relaxation upon dozens of school soccer fields on Saturday, the serene Finger Lakes of New York might be set to play host to one of the crucial anticipated NASCAR Xfinity Collection debuts in a very long time.
18-year-old Connor Zilisch is scheduled to make his Xfinity Collection debut with Jr. Motorsports on Saturday at Watkins Glen Worldwide, giving followers a sneak peek of what’s to return in a full-time marketing campaign in 2025.
Zilisch has been extremely touted as one of many high prospects in NASCAR and Saturday’s race might be maybe his greatest take a look at but in a stock-car. The rising star is already an completed highway racer, boasting wins the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. He additionally turned heads in his NASCAR Truck Collection debut at Circuit of the Americas in March.
In actual fact, Zilisch rewrote the document e book in his Truck Collection debut, shattering the observe document in qualifying. Solely a mistake coming into the primary nook of the race price him the win, however he nonetheless clawed again from the miscue to earn a fourth-place end.
With one other Truck Collection race at Richmond and a litany of ARCA begins beneath his belt, Zilisch is extra ready for a stock-car race than he ever has been earlier than and he’ll have the most effective gear within the Xfinity Collection beneath him this weekend.
Saturday’s race might be a giant one within the grand scheme of the Xfinity Collection season, however when you want one more reason to show the channel to USA Community, NASCAR’s most fun prospect suits the invoice. Zilisch alone is definitely worth the worth of admission and if his Truck Collection debut was any indication, the tenured Xfinity Collection discipline may have to observe their collective again.
Saturday’s follow and qualifying classes might be necessary for Zilisch as he learns easy methods to drive the Xfinity Collection automotive, however that’s the place his versatility and adaptableness come into play. So long as he has laps beneath his belt when the inexperienced flag waves, he has pretty much as good a shot as anybody within the discipline to win.
Zilisch might be seeking to grow to be the primary driver since Ty Gibbs in 2021 to win of their first profession Xfinity Collection begin.
The Shriners Youngsters’s 200 at Watkins Glen will go inexperienced shortly after 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, with protection on USA Community, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.