Connor Zilisch conquers Michigan ARCA race
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Connor Zilisch doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, but on Friday at Michigan International Speedway, he proved once again he is a quick learner.
Making his first start on an oval larger than one mile soon after turning 18 and becoming eligible to race on such tracks, Zilisch roared to his fourth ARCA Menards Series victory in as many starts this season aboard the No. 28 Chevrolet for the Pinnacle Racing Group.
“I’m just so grateful to have so many people surrounding me,” Zilisch said. “This Pinnacle Racing Group team, man, we’ve been firing on all cylinders lately. It just means so much to win here. My first big track. This one is definitely special.”
The record books will show Zilisch led nearly half of the Henry Ford Health 200, but what they won’t show is the work he had to put in to earn a trip to Michigan’s Victory Lane.
He initially took the lead for the first time on Lap 8, when he drove past polesitter Andres Perez. Zilisch held the lead until Lap 23, when Joe Gibbs Racing’s Tanner Gray ran him down and made the pass.
Zilisch ran second until the caution flag waved for the first scheduled break on Lap 36. During the ensuing restart, his engine stumbled, dropping him to third. He was able to make his way back to second by the time the caution flag waved for the second scheduled break on Lap 70.
It was during the ensuing restart when Zilisch made his move. Restarting on the bottom alongside Gray, Zilisch got a great launch and took the lead as the field roared into Turn 1.
“I was surprised when he took the top,” Zilisch said. “I knew I just had to get a good jump.”
Behind him, Gray found himself racing three and four wide for second with Perez, Kris Wright, Jake Finch and Greg Van Alst all jockeying for position.
Perez ultimately emerged with the runner-up position and made a valiant attempt to run Zilisch down in the closing laps. On a few occasions, he got to Zilisch’s rear bumper, but he couldn’t find a way past the ARCA Menards Series East championship leader and had to settle for second.
“Obviously this is frustrating finishing second. We’ve been so close this year,” said Perez, who leads the ARCA Menards Series standings but is still looking for his first series victory. “We were really fast there; I think we could have got him. There was never a point where he made a mistake or something where I could get close to him and actually try a move.
“I think second is still a good day. It’ll come soon. Yeah, it’s frustrating to keep running second after having such a good car and pace. But I know it’ll come.”
Zilisch, who is a Trackhouse Racing development driver and already has an agreement in place to drive for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next year, still has plenty to accomplish this season.
He is two races away from the ARCA Menards Series East championship and plans to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in a few weeks at Watkins Glen International.
For now, he’s going to soak in his first victory on a big track. It’s a win he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
“I’m just so grateful for this team,” Zilisch said. “Pinnacle Racing Group man, it’s been one hell of a year for sure. I’m looking forward to the rest of them.”
Gray was able to make his way back to third after losing the lead on the final restart, but contact with the outside wall coming out of Turn 2 as he tried to chase down Perez ultimately ended his chances at victory.
Finch finished fourth after starting the 100-lap event from the rear. Wright was fifth, followed by Van Alst, Jason Kitzmiller, Toni Breidinger, Christian Rose and Amber Balcaen.
The Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan was the first leg of a Friday-Sunday weekend doubleheader for the ARCA Menards Series. Drivers and teams are set to race again Sunday on the one-mile dirt oval at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Sunday’s race on the Springfield Mile is set to start at 2 p.m. ET with FS1 carrying live coverage.
RESULTS
Pos No. Name Sponsor Laps Diff
1 28 Connor Zilisch * Chevrolet Performance/Silver Hare Development Chevrolet 100 —
2 2 Andres Perez Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet 100 0.701
3 18 Tanner Gray JGR Toyota 100 1.327
4 20 Jake Finch * Phoenix Toyota 100 11.11
5 15 Kris Wright FNB Corportation Toyota 100 12.42
6 35 Greg Van Alst CB Fabricating/Top Choice Fence Ford 100 18.334
7 97 Jason Kitzmiller A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet 100 23.128
8 25 Toni Breidinger Sunoco Toyota 100 31.1
9 32 Christian Rose West Virginia Department of Tourism Ford 98 2 Laps
10 22 Amber Balcaen Icon Toyota 98 2 Laps
11 11 Cody Dennison * Timcast.com Toyota 97 3 Laps
12 33 Frankie Muniz VYPER Ford 96 4 Laps
13 10 Jayson Alexander * Permier Performance Group Toyota 94 6 Laps
14 55 Gus Dean VMS Toyota 93 7 Laps
15 6 Lavar Scott * Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet 89 11 Laps
16 12 Ryan Roulette * Bellator Recruiting Academy/VFW Ford 89 11 Laps
17 65 Jeffrey MacZink Syncon/Parkway Services/Innovative Fluids Toyota 88 12 Laps
18 03 Alex Clubb Race Parts Liquidators Ford 85 15 Laps
19 73 Andy Jankowiak KLAS Motorsports Toyota 83 17 Laps
20 99 Michael Maples * Don Ray Petroleum LLC/Maples Motorsports Chevrolet 71 29 Laps
21 48 Brad Smith Copraya.com Ford 44 56 Laps
22 27 Tim Richmond Latino Immigration & Legal Center P.C. Toyota 30 70 Laps
23 31 Casey Carden * Epic Insurance Chevrolet 6 94 Laps
24 06 Nate Moeller * Peterson Motorsports Ford 5 95 Laps
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