Latest news with #NASCARXfinitySeriesNorthCarolinaEducationLottery250
Newsweek
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
JR Motorsports Gives Connor Zilisch Playoff Eligibility Update Amid Back Injury
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. JR Motorsports has provided an update on Connor Zilisch's playoff eligibility after confirming that the 18-year-old driver will miss the Texas NASCAR Xfinity Series race due to a back injury. The Dale Earnhardt Jr.-led team confirmed in a statement that, "Connor Zilisch has been granted a playoff waiver by NASCAR and remains qualified for the 2025 NXS Playoffs." To be eligible for the playoffs, drivers have to be competing full-time. As Zilisch is only out of the race weekend due to an injury/medical reason, this decision from NASCAR was expected. Zilisch was leading the final lap of the NASCAR Xfinity race at Talladega last weekend when he was hit from behind by Jesse Love. The tap from the Richard Childress Racing driver sent Zilisch into a spin before he crashed into the barriers head-on. Continuing to cascade across the track, he eventually came to a stop. After visiting the infield medical center, he explained that he was "grateful to be walking." Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, loduring qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in Rockingham, North Carolina. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, loduring qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in Rockingham, North drivers have said about the Zilisch x Love wreck Connor Zilisch Speaking after the race, Zilisch explained: "Yeah, I'm okay. "That's one of the wrecks where you move your legs and make sure everything feels okay afterwards. So, very grateful to drive safe JR Motorsports race cars. "Our WeatherTech Chevrolet was as fast as Xfinity Mobile. We were in the right spot, just, yeah, I haven't really watched it close enough to know what happened. But yeah, grateful to be up and walking." He added a day later: "Sore today but more than anything just upset that I couldn't close that one out for my team. If we keep putting ourselves in position to win races, it will come. Thank you to everyone who reached out to make sure I was okay." Jesse Love Love, who is close friends with Zilisch, commented directly after the race: "I just got really good pushes there at the end. "I was able to lift enough off of [Turn] 2 to get big pushes. I kind of thought we made our bed and were not in a good spot to win, and then I was able to get Austin [Hill] connected to me and he was able to give me some good pushes down the backstretch for a few laps. It was definitely tough how that ended. I hope my friend is okay. "I'm not going to comment on what I thought happened there yet. I just want to go check on him and make sure he's alright. Looked like a really hard hit, and he really hasn't taken many hard hits yet." Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnhardt Jr. also shared a message of encouragement for his team's driver, writing: "It sucks to see Connor have to sit out but I'm thankful he is being smart and patient with this injury. "He'll be back in the seat and back at the front of the field soon enough."
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Connor Zilisch Shares First Message As JR Motorsports Confirms Texas Absence
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. Connor Zilisch will miss the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway after sustaining a back injury during a wreck at Talladega Superspeedway. As the JR Motorsports driver set his sights on the finish line in Talladega, he got caught up in a wreck with Richard Childress Racing driver Jesse Love. Love clipped the rear of Zilisch's No.88 Chevrolet, causing the 18-year-old to spin and collide head-on into the barriers. After being cleared by the infield medical center, Zilisch was expected to be racing this weekend in Texas. However, JR Motorsports has now confirmed that he will miss this weekend's racing due to an ongoing back injury sustained from the crash. Kyle Larson will take his place. The team shared: "Kyle Larson will sub for Connor Zilisch behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway as Zilisch continues to recover from a lower back injury sustained last weekend at Talladega." Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in Rockingham, North Carolina. (Photo by) MoreAddressing the news on social media, Zilisch explained: "Thank you to @KyleLarsonRacin for stepping up for me this weekend and everyone who has helped me through this process. Doing everything I can to be back as soon as possible." Thank you to @KyleLarsonRacin for stepping up for me this weekend and everyone who has helped me through this process. Doing everything I can to be back as soon as possible❤️ — Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) April 30, 2025 As per the message from the driver, it is not clear when he will make his racing return at this stage. Love commented on the crash following the race. He explained, as previously reported by Newsweek Sports: "I just got really good pushes there at the end. "I was able to lift enough off of [Turn] 2 to get big pushes. I kind of thought we made our bed and were not in a good spot to win, and then I was able to get Austin [Hill] connected to me and he was able to give me some good pushes down the backstretch for a few laps. It was definitely tough how that ended. I hope my friend is okay. "I'm not going to comment on what I thought happened there yet. I just want to go check on him and make sure he's alright. Looked like a really hard hit, and he really hasn't taken many hard hits yet." The NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy's Frozen Custard 300 is set to take place at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday May 3 at 2 p.m. ET.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR President Breaks Silence on Cup Series Return to Rockingham
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. Following the huge success of NASCAR's Easter weekend at Rockingham Speedway, NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell has teased a possible Cup Series return to the North Carolina track. The doubleheader saw both the Xfinity and Truck Series return to the iconic track, 'The Rock,' after several years, and this saw tremendous ticket sales and a fanfare response. With this, questions were of course being asked about a Cup Series return. O'Donnell, only recently promoted to the role of NASCAR president, is enthusiastic about the sport's return after "an unbelievable turnout." He however confirmed to The Charlotte Observer that he'd like to keep it to just Xfinity and Trucks for now while bringing in more Cup Series drivers, but "you never know what the future holds beyond that." These comments are carefully worded, hinting at a potential Cup Series return if the hype around the 0.94-mile track is sustained. It hasn't been since 2004 that the track has hosted the series. Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in... Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black's Tire at Rockingham Speedway on April 19, 2025 in Rockingham, North Carolina. MoreEaster weekend saw a sellout crowd of 25,000 fans on the Saturday and 16,000 on the Friday. Tyler Ankrum won the Truck Series race, but drama surrounding Jesse Love saw his car being disqualified following the Xfinity Series race, making Sammy Smith the eventual winner of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. The race saw 17 lead changes between eight drivers. Talking to the media following the race, Ankrum said the following to the media: "It's really, really cool. When we get to bring back these old tracks, it's really, really cool. You can tell the fans are really excited. Even on pit road, the fans are going crazy all the time, and they're talking so loudly you can hear 'em from pit road." "You kind of get the feeling of what I imagine as a kid what Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon felt like. They're here for us - they're not here for the Cup guys. It's really, really cool to see racing like this come back to North Carolina..." Kasey Kahne added: "I think a Cup event would be fantastic here. I used to enjoy watching it and being a part of it the one year I was. "It could make a great race."
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki's number 91 to showcase Rockford with custom paint scheme
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rockford is making a NASCAR splash with driver Josh Bilicki's Number 91 Chevy Camaro SS, which will feature a custom paint scheme showcasing the city to a national audience – at 200 mph. The Rockford-branded car is sponsored by Insurance King owner Dan Block, and features an illustration of the Rockmen Guardians, a Rockford Peaches logo, an image of Symbol by Alexander Liberman, and a sock monkey illustration. Insurance King has sponsored Bilicki's DGM racing team since 2019. 'Dan's game to try anything, even having the cars we've designed now part of video games that people play,' Bilicki said. 'He also likes to give back to his hometown of Rockford, so the newly designed car is perfect for that.' Bilicki, a Wisconsin native, will drive the Rockford-themed car at the Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina on Saturday, April 19th, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250. The race, the first held at Rockingham in more than 20 years, will be broadcast at 3 p.m. on the CW Network. 'Fans are encouraged to tune in to the race and spot the Rockford-branded car during the live broadcast. Share your screenshots and shout-outs on social using #GoRockfordRacing,' GoRockford said in a press release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
