Latest news with #XfinityRacing
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Connor Zilisch Pokes Fun at Dale Earnhardt Jr. After Xfinity Win at Pocono
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Connor Zilisch may have taken a lighthearted jab at his team boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr., with the way he celebrated his NASCAR Xfinity Series race win at Pocono. The race marked the pair's first race together as driver and crew chief. Zilisch's second victory of the season arrived after he capitalized on a caution on Lap 71 and stayed in the battle for the top spot. Just as Justin Allgaier and Chase Elliott brought their elbows out, Zilisch was quick to take advantage of the situation. Though Jesse Love took the lead, Zilisch ensured he got a strong restart and overtook Love in just four laps to win the race. The 18-year-old executed the race calmly and showed no signs of haste. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway on June 21, 2025 in Long Pond, this marked a great race day for Zilisch and Dale Jr., who was serving as the interim crew chief for the 18-year-old driver, Zilisch's post-race celebrations would have likely annoyed Dale Jr. The former NASCAR Cup Series driver has admitted on his Dale Jr. Download podcast that he isn't a fan of drivers emerging from the car's roof hatch to celebrate. However, Zilisch did just that. Was this a way of poking fun at his new boss? Only Zilisch knows that. Well, that'll be a topic on the @DaleJr Download 🤣 — Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) June 21, 2025 Speaking after his Xfinity win, Zilisch addressed his race preparations and admitted that a driver must trust the simulator. He said: "There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. I've done a lot to prepare myself for this. I never feel like I show up to a racetrack and I'm like, 'man, I'm nervous. I don't know what I'm going to do.' I always have a plan showing up to a new racetrack. I showed that today. I went out for practice and I was third on the first lap never seeing the place before. "It's not easy to do that. I was going wide open down into [turn] 1, and I was like, 'wow, this is fast.' You kind of just have to trust the simulator and trust your notes and what you've seen and watched. I try to give myself an idea of what I'm going to see when I get to the racetrack without having to overthink about it." He added: "I've folded more times than I've been able to count this year, so I wouldn't say I'm perfect. It's just a matter of preparing and not letting any situation be too big. Those restarts can be chaotic and nerve-wracking, especially when you're up there at the front racing for a win. But I treat any race the same - I run my next best corner and hope that what I do works out for me. Sometimes it doesn't and sometimes it does. Today, it worked out."
Newsweek
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Kyle Larson Speaks Out On Second Failed Double Attempt After Indy 500 Wreck
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Larson attempted The Double today for the second time, which consisted of completing the Indy 500 and the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 in the same day. After attempting the feat last year but failing to pull it off due to weather delays, the 32-year-old driver set his sights on making it happen this year. However, after starting from 19th on the grid, Larson crashed out of the Indy 500 on the 92nd lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. While speaking to the media after visiting the infield center, Larson explained: "It was a bit crazy there on the start. Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Hendrick 1100 Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 Hendrick 1100 Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina."I got tight behind Takuma [Sato]. I was really close to him and I think I got loose and kind of got all over the place. Yeah, so I spun. Just hate that I got a little too eager there on the restart and caused that crash. So, hate it for everybody that also got caught up in it. "Just bummed out, so I'll try to get over this quickly and get on to Charlotte, and just forgot about it." 💔 for Kyle Larson — Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) May 25, 2025 During an interview with FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, Larson commented on when he thought he would have been able to finish the race if he had not crashed. He said: "I don't know. I wasn't too focused on that." Kyle Larson on his wreck. Obviously he is bummed. Also he didn't know if he would have had to leave the race before it ended. @IndyCarOnFOX — Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 25, 2025 Addressing the initial delay of the start of the Indy 500 due to wet weather conditions, he added: "When I'm sitting there for 45 minutes, it was on my mind, but once we got racing, I wasn't really worried about that." Larson arrived at Charlotte Motor Speedway in time to start the Coca-Cola 600. The Hendrick Motorsports driver currently leads the drivers' NASCAR Cup Series standings. NASCAR Cup Series: Current standings 1. Kyle Larson – 469 2. William Byron – 434 3. Christopher Bell – 384 4. Chase Elliott – 378 5. Ryan Blaney – 362 6. Tyler Reddick – 357 7. Denny Hamlin – 346 8. Alex Bowman – 325 9. Joey Logano – 318 10. Bubba Wallace – 310 11. Ross Chastain – 300 12. Chase Briscoe – 278 13. Austin Cindric – 273 14. Ricky Stenhouse Jr – 258 15. Ryan Preece – 251 16. Josh Berry – 244 17. Kyle Busch – 244 18. John H. Nemechek – 234 19. Carson Hocevar – 230 20. Michael McDowell – 228 21. Austin Dillon – 227 22. Zane Smith – 227 23. Todd Gilliland – 227 24. Chris Buescher – 224 25. AJ Allmendinger – 218 26. Ty Gibbs – 217 27. Daniel Suárez – 209 28. Justin Haley – 206 29. Erik Jones – 196 30. Ty Dillon – 188 31. Noah Gragson – 181 32. Riley Herbst – 151 33. Brad Keselowski – 148 34. Cole Custer – 139 35. Shane Van Gisbergen – 138 36. Cody Ware – 68 37. Jimmie Johnson – 34 38. Corey LaJoie – 24 39. JJ Yeley – 9 40. Katherine Legge – 7 41. Casey Mears – 2 42. Burt Myers – 1 43. Chad Finchum – 1 44. Martin Truex Jr – 1
