NXS Race Recap: Pacific Office Automation 147

Portland International Raceway hosted the penultimate race of the regular season for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, with the Pacific Office Automation 147. Connor Zilisch was the fastest car in qualifying, so he started the race on the pole. Justin Allgaier joined him on the front row. William Sawalich and Austin Hill started the race on the second row. The stage lengths were 25 laps for all three.

With this being a standalone NASCAR event, they used non-competitive pit stops. That meant that no positions would be gained or lost on pit road under the cautions. The stage breaks would include a three-minute mandatory stop for all those who pit.

Zilisch Out Front

Zilisch got a great launch at the start and took the lead into turn one. Allgaier settled behind the leader. He stayed attached to the rear bumper of the leader, not letting him pull away. In turn, they pulled away from Hill, in third, by over a second.

Hill continued to fall behind the leader. Zilisch also began to pull away from his JRM teammate in Allgaier slowly. At the beginning of lap four, Zilisch had built his lead to a second and a half. He also secured the fastest lap point, thus far.

By lap 10, Zilisch pulled away from Allgaier by over five seconds. He was by far the fastest car on the track.

Garrett Smithley had an off-track excursion, but was able to get his car back on the track, and no caution was thrown.

Zilisch Was Gone

Hill caught the back of Allgaier to challenge for second. He could not make the pass.

William Sawalich made a mistake and went off track at the same part that Smithley did. He kept his car moving, and the race stayed green. He fell outside the top five.

Dean Thompson had engine issues and slowed on the track. He pulled into the pits and the team went under the hood.

With five to go in the stage, Zilisch was faster than the field by half a second per lap. He had pulled away from Allgaier by over 13 seconds. Hill was right behind Allgaier, fighting for second. He made the pass for the position after driving deeper into turn one.

Sawalich was the second fastest car on the track. After his off-track incident, he was able to close the gap to Carson Kvapil in fifth. He made the pass on Kvapil with two to go.

Before Zilisch could take the green-white checkered flag, Matt Dibenedetto brought his car to a stop. He quickly got out of the car with smoke following him. That brought out the caution, which ended the stage. Zilisch got the stage one win in the Pacific Office Automation 147.

No One was Close

Zilisch and Hill brought the field back to green. Zilisch took the lead out of turn one, but Hill stayed close. Hill fought hard but could not stay close to Zilisch. Hill fell behind the leader by over a second. Allgaier began the battle with Hill for second.

On lap 32, Harrison Burton got turned around after contact with Will Brown. He fell from 20th to outside the top 30.

Jesse Love got damage on his right rear bumper. Sawalich tried to pass Love on the inside of turn one. Love tried to block but got hit, causing quite a bit of damage. He lost several spots and continued to fall.

With eight to go in the stage, Zilisch sat out front with a six-second lead. Hill was comfortable in second with three seconds between him and Allgaier in third.

Zilisch would win stage two with a nine-second lead over Hill. Allgaier, Sawalich, and Mayer rounded out the top five.

Zilisch is Him

Hill and Zilisch brought the field back to the green flag. Zilisch got a great jump and retook his lead out of turn one. He scampered away by over a second quickly. He did not slow down and continued to build his lead.

Sheldon Creed had to make a pit stop with a flat left rear tire.

With 11 to go in the race, the third caution came out. Thomas Annunziata went off the track, as well as Anthony Alfredo stopped his car in turn two.

On lap 69, the green flag came back out. Hill got a great restart and took the lead into turn one. Sawalich overshot turn one and pushed Zilisch off track. He fulfilled his penalty and got back on track in second. Hill pulled away by over a second. Zilisch got a tire rub after contact in turn one.

Brandon Jones and Ryan Sieg got turned around and went off track. They both were able to keep going.

With five to go, Hill maintained his lead of a second.

Jack Perkins, who was running in third, stopped his car off the track. He was stuck in the grass. That brought out the fourth caution of the day.

Overtime in Portland

Hill and Zilisch brought the field back to green. Zilisch stormed back into the lead. He, again, had to use the runoff penalty in turn one. The field behind him all got stacked up. Sawalich got by Hill to take second. Nick Sanchez moved into third. Christian Eckes also got by Hill, who fell to fifth.

Zilisch would take the white and then the checkered flag to win the Pacific Office Automation 147!

Marvin’s Minute:

Zilisch is the most talented driver to come through the Xfinity series in a while. His ability to adapt to different tracks, while staying fast, is insane. It will be a big adjustment when he moves up, but he can do it. He is young and very willing to learn. If he does not win the championship, it will be evidence of the horrible playoff system. The series finishes its regular season next week at World Wide Technology Raceway.