Connor Zilisch’s run of near-perfect finishes in NASCAR Xfinity came to a sudden halt Saturday at the United Rentals 250. The 19-year-old JR Motorsports rookie was caught up in a chaotic Stage 2 wreck that left his car damaged and riding on a flat.
The damaged car of Zilisch, who had achieved 18 consecutive top-five finishes this season, required him to return to the track, but the damage reduced his speed and track position. He climbed out of the race in 23rd. Motorsports reporter Jeff Gluck first posted the incident live as the pack folded up into typical Talladega mayhem.
It was a rough, unglamorous end to what’s otherwise been an extremely consistent rookie campaign. Streaks snap. Teams regroup. For Zilisch and JR Motorsports, the work now is fixing the car, learning from the mess, and getting back to the front next time.
“Top 5s from Talladega in April to Talladega in October. Bummed, but this place will throw me a bone one of these days. Pumped to race for a championship in 2 weeks,” Connor Zilisch posted after the fight.
Connor Zilisch’s Record-Breaking Run Comes to an End
This brought an end to a streak that started after Zilisch’s DNF at Talladega back on April 26, 2025. During that run, he stacked up four straight wins earlier in the season, even breaking the long-standing Xfinity record of 11 consecutive top-five finishes set by Morgan Shepherd in 1990.
Zilisch’s racing performance included multiple podium finishes in second and fifth, and fourth positions, and race victories, which showed his consistent performance throughout the season.
The top five streak comes to an end for Connor Zilisch at Talladega, lasting a record breaking 18-straight races.
A look at Zilisch’s finishes between the two Talladega races this season:
2nd
2nd
5th
🏆
4th
2nd
🏆
🏆
🏆
4th
🏆
🏆
🏆
🏆
5th
2nd
🏆
2nd pic.twitter.com/vFn9zLW7CE— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) October 18, 2025
But Talladega did what Talladega does best: chaos struck again. One wrong move in the pack ended his shot at a perfect playoff sweep. Even so, Zilisch’s performance this season has made one thing clear: he’s the real deal and one of NASCAR’s brightest young stars to watch.
NASCAR Xfinity Chaos at Talladega
Even with the crash, Zilisch earned enough points to move on to the Championship 4. The wreck was part of a big multi-car crash.
Leland Honeyman lost control in Turn 1, triggering a chain-reaction crash that collected several cars, including Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich. William Sawalich was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation, but was later released with no serious injuries, according to Motorsport.com
Other drivers caught in the wreck are Connor Mosack and Dean Thompson. Dean was checked at the infield care center and released shortly after.
WELCOME TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP 4, CONNOR ZILISCH! pic.twitter.com/GHPcBAFsxC
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) October 18, 2025
Austin Hill secured the victory by leading 40 laps and winning both stages of the competition. He held off the field during overtime for his second straight Talladega victory and 14th career win. The unpredictable nature of Talladega racing became clear when Hill took control of the race.
All Eyes on the Championship
Zilisch’s crash sparked a new debate about superspeedway races in the playoffs. Fans shared wild photos online, pointing out how fast things can go wrong at Talladega.
Still, Zilisch’s season isn’t over. His spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Championship 4 means he’ll still fight for the title. With top drivers like Hill and Justin Allgaier in the mix, the finale is shaping up to be thrilling.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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