NXS Race Recap: BetRivers 200

Connor Zilisch looked to continue his fortunes at the BetRivers 200 at The Monster Mile. He started the race in third. Taylor Gray was fastest in qualifying and got the pole. Nicholas Sanchez joined him on the front row. Ross Chastain started the race in the fifth spot. Rain was in the area all day, so it played a factor. The stage lengths were 45 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage being 110.

Gray Gets It Done

Gray got a great launch at the initial start to take the lead into turn one. He immediately dove in front of Sanchez. Jones and Zilisch ran side by side for three laps. He finally got by Jones for third. Gray quickly built his lead to over half a second. He caught the back of the field by lap 23.

Zilisch fell to fifth after being passed by Jones and Almirola. Sanchez got loose and lost second to Jones. Almirola was also able to get by Sanchez. Almirola continued his speed and passed Jones for second. Justin Allgaier, who started the race in the rear, worked his way into eighth very quickly.

Gray watched all the madness in his mirror as he built his lead to a second and a half.

Almirola was able to close the gap to the leader. He cut the lead from a second and a half to under half a second. It was not enough as Taylor Gray would lead every lap and win the first stage!

Jones won the race out of the pits. Zilisch and Almirola followed him. Allgaier left the pits in fourth. Gray had a problem on pit road and fell to 15th.

Another Rookie Takes It

Jones and Zilisch brought the field back to green. Zilisch took the lead as they left turn two. Almirola settled in third. Zilisch quickly built his lead to almost a second ahead of Jones. Allgaier found his way to fourth. The field spread out single file across the track. Almirola used a run on the front stretch to pass Jones for second.

The field began communicating over their radios about rain on the radar.

Ryan Sieg passed his way into the top five after getting by Jesse Love.

Zilisch continued to flex, building his lead to over a second and a half. He would go on to win stage two! Almirola, Jones, Allgaier, and Sieg would finish in the top five.

Zilisch won the race off of pit road with Jones and Allgaier following him.

Rain Rain

Zilisch and Kyle Sieg brought the field back to green. Sieg immediately fell back. Zilisch took the lead. Jones followed him to second. Almirola found himself in the top three after the restart. Zilisch built a gap of just under half a second to Jones, but they pulled away from Almirola in third.

Chastain brought his car down pit road after complaining of a bad vibration. Nick Sanchez also drove down pit road with problems. They would both take their cars to the garage.

Zilisch caught a lapped car, but it did not slow him down. He drove his gap to over a second ahead of Jones. He was informed of the impending rain.

With 68 laps left, the caution came out for rain in the area. The red flag would be displayed on lap 135. That ended the race. Connor Zilisch would get the win in the BetRivers 200! Almirola, Jones, Allgaier, and Love would round out the top five.

Marvin’s Moment:

I was hesitant to give Zilisch his flowers, but he has proven me wrong. He is fast at every track type. His run over the last seven races, after coming back from an injury, is nothing short of impressive. Two wins, three seconds, a fourth, and a fifth… That is an absolutely crazy run for anyone, let alone after an injury. He should be a favorite to win the championship. The series continues next week at Indianapolis!