XFINITY Series Watkins Glen International

NASCAR XFINITY Series

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Mission 200 at the Glen

Saturday, September 14th, 2024

Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY

Previous race at Watkins Glen International
  • 26 Chevrolet
  • 6 Toyota
  • 8 Ford

  • Thursday, September 12th, 2024
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Holly Cain
Only two to go to decide NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff contenders

The NASCAR Xfinity Series is set to deliver the weekend’s first dose of close-quarter, high-skilled action at the hallowed Watkins Glen International road course. With only two races now remaining to formalize the 12-driver Playoff field, Saturday’s Mission 200 at The Glen (3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) could be a pivotal chapter in the title run.

JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer is the defending race winner, beating Sheldon Creed to the line last summer by a slight .909-second, with a third member of this year’s title contending group, Parker Kligerman, finishing third.

Mayer is the only current fulltime Xfinity Series driver to hoist the trophy in this race, although three other fulltime drivers have won at The Glen. Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill was the 2021 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner at the famed road course and his current RCR teammate Jesse Love won last year’s ARCA Menards Series race there. JRM’s Brandon Jones earned the 2022 ARCA trophy.

Hill won last week at Atlanta – his second win of the year, matching the win total for Regular Season Championship leader Justin Allgaier, Chandler Smith, and Sam Mayer. Kaulig Racing’s Shane Van Gisbergen is a three-race winner in 2024, scoring all three trophies on road courses (at Chicago, Sonoma, Calif. and Portland).

Another of the sport’s best road racing drivers, Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger is still looking to score his first Xfinity Series win at the track. A victory this weekend would also be his first of the season, although he is the highest ranked driver (ninth) in terms of points without a win, with a safe 144-point advantage over Ryan Sieg in 13th place.

Sieg took a hard hit in points last week when he was collected in a late race multi-car accident at Atlanta. He now trails JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith by 44 points for that 12th and final Playoff points position.

What looked a lot like a championship lock for Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer has now become a close tussle between the reigning series champ Custer and Allgaier. The 26-year-old Californian, Custer, led Allgaier by double digits only three races ago, but three finishes of 30th or worse in the last four races have instead left him 34 points behind Allgaier with just two races to decide the regular season title.

Connor Zilisch is set to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this weekend, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

There are also several fulltime NASCAR Cup Series drivers entered from Joey Logano to William Byron, Ross Chastain, Ty Gibbs and part-time competitor Aric Almirola. International drivers Ed Jones and Alon Day are also on the entry list.

  • Mission 200 at the Glen
  • Pole Winner: Connor Zilisch
  • Age: 18
  • Team : No 88 - Carolina Carports Chevrolet
  • Owner: Dale Earnhardt, Jr
  • Crew Chief: Andrew Overstreet
  • Connor Zilisch won the Pole Award for the Mission 200 at the Glen with a lap of 71028 seconds, 124176 mph
  • This is his first pole in one NASCAR Xfinity Series races
  • This is his first pole and first top-10 start in 2024
  • This is his first pole in one races at Watkins Glen International
  • Ty Gibbs (second) posted his sixth top-10 start of 2024 and his third in four races at Watkins Glen International
  • AJ Allmendinger (third) posted his fifth top-10 start at Watkins Glen International It is his 18th in 25 races this season
  • Jesse Love (11th) was the fastest qualifying rookie

  • Saturday, September 14th, 2024
  • NASCAR Wire Service - Holly Cain
Connor Zilisch wins from the pole in Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen

Introducing. … Connor Zilisch.

The 18-year-old North Carolina native made his formal entrée into big time NASCAR racing with a major statement holding off the field on a pair of thrilling overtime restarts at the historic 2.45-mile Watkins Glen International road course to claim his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in his first career start.

The Mission 200 at The Glen finished under caution with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sheldon Creed finishing runner-up – for a record 12th time – emerging from a three-wide battle for second place with a multi-car accident farther behind in the field bringing out the yellow flag that ultimately froze the field.

“I worked so hard for this one,” a smiling Zilisch said, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve been working for this one for months and it’s so special to me, man. I don’t even have words.

“I don’t know how I saved enough, I sputtered up the hill,” he said of having to save fuel in the closing laps which included a restart with two laps remaining and then two more in overtime.

“With two to go, I didn’t think I was going to make it back to the line even. I’m going to enjoy this one for a while. I can’t say enough about JR Motorsports and everyone who supports me.”

Zilisch, who also won in class in this year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona IMSA race, is the seventh driver to win in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start – a list that includes the legendary Dale Earnhardt and current NASCAR Cup Series standout Ty Gibbs. And he becomes the second youngest race winner- to Joey Logano – in series history at 18 years, one month and 23 days.

It was that kind of weekend for the young driver, who led a race best 45 of the 90 laps after earning his first career Xfinity Series pole position earlier Saturday. On Friday, he claimed his fifth ARCA Menards Series victory in seven starts.

His work Saturday wasn’t necessarily an “easy” win, however. He really had to earn it – rallying from a mid-race penalty and managing fuel in the closing laps.

In an unusual situation during a caution, Zilisch received a penalty while running among the top-three late in the race. NASCAR ruled the top-running trio – also including Gibbs and Sammy Smith – cut the course and the penalty sent them all to the rear for the restart. Zilisch rallied from 31st-place and was top-five 20 laps later.

Creed, who is still competing for that first series victory after so many close calls, smiled on pit road Saturday, conceding this time his second-place finish was one he could actually be pleased with instead of seeing it as a near-miss. His rally on the final lap getting the best of some of the best road course drivers was a small victory in and of itself.

“Just trying to keep the nose on it there, actually really fun,” Creed said of the last lap battle. “I felt like that was the battle for the win probably there if the 88 [Zilisch] ran out [of fuel]. I thought I put myself in really good positions to end up second again. I’m actually happy, for how my day was going.”

He finished just ahead of Kaulig Racing’s A.J. Allmendinger, the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ all-time road course best, JGR teammate Chandler Smith and Kaulig’s Shane van Gisbergen, who had won the season’s previous three road course races.

Van Gisbergen was so impressed with Zilisch that when he congratulated the teenager in Victory Lane, he smiled and suggested some team should put Zilisch in a NASCAR Cup Series car for Sunday’s race.

Zilisch’s took a call from team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. during his winner’s press conference.

“Enjoy this, you never win your “first” again,” Earnhardt told him.

Ross Chastain, who won the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the track earlier Saturday, finished sixth in the DGM Racing Chevrolet with Big Machine Racing’s Parker Kligerman scoring a seventh-place finish. Richard Childress Racing rookie Jesse Love was eighth, followed by Joey Logano in the AM Racing car and MBM Motorsports’ Josh Bilicki.

The race was impactful with only a single event now left in the regular season to determine the 12-driver Playoff field. JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier finished 17th after an eventful day when the veteran was collected in multiple multi-car incidents. But he still emerged as the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship leader by 43-points over defending series champion, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer, who finished 21st Saturday after also being caught up in incidents on track.

At the other end of the standings, JR Motorsports’ Sammy Smith was able to slightly extend his advantage over RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg for the 12th and final Playoff position. Despite a mechanical issue from his first green flag pit stop, Smith was able to rally to a 19th-place finish. Sieg, who collected points during the second stage, is now 44 points behind Smith heading to Bristol.

The regular season finale concludes with next Friday night’s Food City 300 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Current NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson is the defending race winner.

  • Drivers Entered: 41 (3 drivers will not make the race)
  • Laps Scheduled: 82
  • Laps Actual: 90 - NASCAR OVERTIME!
  • Margin of Victory: Under Caution Seconds
  • Time of Race: 2 Hours 35 Minutes 38 Seconds
  • Average Speed: 85.007
  • Cautions: 7 for 19 laps
  • Lead Changes: 10
  • Green Flag Passes: 1,916 (27.0 passes per green flag lap)

  • Watkins Glen International
  • Mission 200 at the Glen
  • Race Winner: Connor Zilisch
  • Age: 18
  • Team : No 88 - Carolina Carports Chevrolet
  • Owner: JR Motorsports
  • Crew Chief: Andrew Overstreet
  • Connor Zilisch won the Mission 200 at the Glen, his first victory in his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut - he is the seventh different driver to win in their Xfinity Series debut
  • This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in 2024
  • This is his first victory and first top-10 finish in one race at Watkins Glen International
  • Sheldon Creed (second) posted his third top-10 finish in three races at Watkins Glen International It is his 16th top-10 finish in 2024
  • AJ Allmendinger (third) posted his fourth top-10 finish in five races at Watkins Glen International
  • Shane Van Gisbergen (fifth) was the highest finishing rookie
  • Justin Allgaier leads the point standings by 43 points over Cole Custer
Sam Mayer and crew celebrate
Watkins Glen, New York - August 19, 2023 : Sam Mayer, driver of the #1 Accelerate Pros Talent Chevrolet, and crew celebrate after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Shriners Children's 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.
Sean GardnerGetty Images
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Practice-Qualifying
Mission 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International Entry List
ENTRY # DRIVER HOMETOWN DOB AGE MAKE SPONSOR TEAM CREW CHIEF
1 16 AJ Allmendinger Los Gatos, CA Dec 16, 1981 42 Chevrolet Celsius Kaulig Racing Alex Yontz
2 20 Aric Almirola Tampa, FL Mar 14, 1984 40 Toyota Go Bowling Joe Gibbs Racing Tyler Allen
3 15 Joey Logano Middleton, CT May 24, 1990 34 Ford Klutch Vodka AM Racing Matthew Lucas
4 7 Justin Allgaier Riverton, IL Jun 6, 1986 38 Chevrolet BRANDT JR Motorsports Jim Pohlman
5 48 Parker Kligerman Westport, CT Aug 8, 1990 34 Chevrolet Borchetta Bourbon Big Machine Racing Patrick Donahue
6 27 Jeb Burton Halifax, VA Aug 6, 1992 32 Chevrolet Heartbeat Hot Sauce / Norma Jordan Anderson Racing Shane Whitbeck
7 38 Matt DiBenedetto Grass Valley, CA Jul 27, 1991 33 Ford ReMA RSS Racing Kevin Johnson
8 43 Ryan Ellis Torrence, CA Nov 29, 1989 34 Chevrolet TBA Alpha Prime Racing Keith Wolfe
9 39 Ryan Sieg Tucker, GA Jun 20, 1987 37 Ford Sci Aps RSS Racing Matt Noyce
10 92 Ross Chastain Alva, FL Dec 4, 1992 31 Chevrolet Protect Your Melon DGM Racing Bryan Berry
11 45 Alon Day Ashod, Israel Nov 4, 1991 32 Chevrolet JSSI Alpha Prime Racing Pat Tryson
12 36 Kyle Weatherman Wentzville, MO Aug 28, 1997 27 Chevrolet TBA DGM Racing Nathan Kennedy
13 17 William Byron Charlotte, NC Nov 29, 1997 26 Chevrolet HendrickCars.com Hendrick Motorsports Brandon McSwain
14 44 Brennan Poole Sacramento, CA Apr 11, 1991 33 Chevrolet Frontline Fire Protection Alpha Prime Racing Frank Kerr
15 00 Cole Custer Ladera Ranch, CA Jan 23, 1998 26 Ford HighPoint.com Stewart Haas Racing Jonathan Toney
16 91 Josh Bilicki Menomonee Falls, WI Jun 3, 1995 29 Chevrolet Chemung Supply Corporation DGM Racing Mario Gosselin
17 21 Austin Hill Winston, GA Apr 21, 1994 30 Chevrolet Global Industrial Richard Childress Racing Andy Street
18 9 Brandon Jones Atlanta, GA Feb 18, 1997 27 Chevrolet Menards/Pelonis JR Motorsports Adam Wall
19 51 Jeremy Clements Spartanburg, SC Jan 16, 1985 39 Chevrolet TBA Jeremy Clements Racing Mark Setzer
20 11 Josh Williams Port Charlotte, FL Aug 3, 1993 31 Chevrolet Alloy Employer Services Kaulig Racing Eddie Pardue
21 98 Riley Herbst Las Vegas, NV Feb 24, 1999 25 Ford Monster Energy Stewart Haas Racing Davin Restivo
22 5 Anthony Alfredo Ridgefield, CT Mar 1, 1999 25 Chevrolet Ferguson Our Motorsports Joshua Graham
23 07 Jade Buford Brentwood, TN Feb 15, 1988 36 Chevrolet TBA SS-Green Light Racing Paul Clapprood
24 14 RC Enerson New Port Richey, FL Mar 6, 1997 27 Chevrolet Lucas Oil School of Racing SS-Green Light Racing Jason Miller
25 18 Sheldon Creed Alpine, CA Sep 30, 1997 27 Toyota Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Joe Gibbs Racing Sam McAulay
26 19 Ty Gibbs Charlotte, NC Oct 4, 2002 22 Toyota Starkey Joe Gibbs Racing Seth Chavka
27 29 Blaine Perkins Bakersfield, CA Feb 28, 2000 24 Ford AutoParkit.com RSS Racing Steve Addington
28 28 Kyle Sieg Tucker, GA Apr 16, 2001 23 Ford TBA RSS Racing Joe Williams
29 1 Sam Mayer Franklin, WI Jun 26, 2003 21 Chevrolet 10X Health JR Motorsports Mardy Lindley
30 81 Chandler Smith Talking Rock, GA Jun 26, 2002 22 Toyota Smith General Contracting Joe Gibbs Racing Jeff Meendering
31 31 Parker Retzlaff Rhinelander, WI May 21, 2003 21 Chevrolet FUNKAWAY Jordan Anderson Racing Chad Kendrick
32 8 Sammy Smith Johnston, IA Jun 4, 2004 20 Chevrolet Pilot Flying J JR Motorsports Phillip Bell
33 42 Leland Honeyman Jr Phoenix, AZ Feb 23, 2005 19 Chevrolet RANDCO Industries Young's Motorsports Andrew Abbott
34 26 Ed Jones Dubai, United Arab Emirates Feb 12, 1995 29 Toyota Toyota Genuine Parts Sam Hunt Racing Kris Bowen
35 2 Jesse Love Menlo Park, CA Jan 14, 2005 19 Chevrolet Whelen Richard Childress Racing Danny Stockman
36 97 Shane van Gisbergen Aucklund, New Zealand May 9, 1989 35 Chevrolet WeatherTech Kaulig Racing Kevin Walter
37 88 Connor Zilisch Charlotte, NC Jul 21, 2006 18 Chevrolet Carolina Carports JR Motorsports Andrew Overstreet
38 32 Austin Green Concord, NC Mar 26, 2001 23 Chevrolet 3Dimensional.com Jordan Anderson Racing Jody Measamer
39 35 Thomas Annunziata Colts Neck, NJ Jun 14, 2005 19 Toyota NFPA Joey Gase Motorsports Mike Hillman Sr
40 13 Kyle Keller Las Vegas, NV Jan 25, 2005 19 Ford MBM Motorsports Motorsports Business Management Carl Long