Connor Zilisch received Friday night time’s WAWA 250 NASCAR Xfinity Collection race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway—however he didn’t cross the end line. Parker Kligerman did cross the end line first, however he didn’t get credit score for the win. And Justin Allgaier was simply joyful that he might push Zilisch’s automobile, pushed by Kligerman, and end third himself—his finest displaying since successful at Nashville, practically three months in the past.
Confused?
Nicely, as Allgaier stated, “Tonight was completely different.”
Certainly, it was.
The 19-year-old Zilisch, who suffered a damaged collarbone (which required surgical procedure) when he fell from his successful automobile in victory lane two weeks in the past at Watkins Glen, began Friday’s race to guarantee himself of incomes each the end and the factors that got here with it.
Nonetheless, the plan at all times was to have him changed early within the race by a substitute driver, and that wound up being Kligerman, who changed Zilisch throughout a warning on Lap 13.
From that time, Kligerman piloted the automobile, main a complete of 12 laps, together with the fin
al ten, to earn the win for Zilisch and JR Motorsports (and for Kligerman himself by default, although he received’t be credited with something).
“I’m nonetheless going to rely this as a win, I’m going to take the checkered flag,” Kligerman informed the CW Community.
Zilisch complimented his understudy, additionally telling the CW Community, “I feel everyone is aware of Parker received the race immediately.”
Whereas Kligerman actually deserves a whole lot of credit score for what he did, he bought an enormous help on the finish of the race from Allgaier, who helped push Zilisch’s No. 88 Chevrolet and Kligerman to victory.
“I used to be nervous about Connor even getting within the automobile, if I’m being trustworthy with you,” Allgaier stated after the race. “I’ve had accidents and tried to race with them, and it’s a terrific concept on paper till you strap the seatbel
ts on. To see the entire weekend play out prefer it did and to see all these guys to not solely have an excellent day, however to win the race is cool.”
However in an extra twist of irony, though Allgaier completed third, and although he led fewer laps (6) than Zilisch’s 12 laps led (all by Kligerman), Allgaier leaves Daytona with a three-point lead within the Xfinity Collection standings over Zilisch with two extra regular-season races to go. Nonetheless, Zilisch (with the help of Kligerman) elevated his series-leading complete wins this season to seven.
Allgaier took the factors lead as a result of he had a greater end than Kligerman in Stage 1 (fifth) and received Stage 2.
It was a 1-2-3 sweep for JR Motorsports, with Zilisch claiming the win by 0.200 seconds over runner-up Sammy Smith and Allgaier.
“It’s disappointing to return out of right here third, however
both means it was a strong end, strong day,” Allgaier stated. “Firm-wise, it was a terrific day. There have been a whole lot of positives.”
Allgaier took some private comfort as nicely.
“Our summer time has been atrocious, and I really feel like our crew wanted an evening like tonight to get again on monitor and put ourselves ready to have an excellent go at it in these subsequent few (races),” Allgaier stated. “No harm on the automobile, I don’t assume I even had a scratch on it, so a lot of positives tonight, although we completed third.”
Allgaier complimented Kligerman for doing what he did beneath troublesome circumstances.
“Parker has gone by means of lots,” Allgaier stated.
“We got here to this sport comparable, we each began at Penske. We each got here into this sport on this little bubble that was actually arduous to get out of. Yeah, we each stayed within the sport, however I’d say it actually restricted our route. We each went completely different instructions, however type of the identical path. I’ve watch
ed Parker put the effort and time in. I watched (Zilisch) this week, he did a whole lot of preparation for the motive force swap and being ready.”
The Xfinity Collection has not seen a alternative driver take the checkered flag since 2007, when Aric Almirola began for Denny Hamlin, who was late attending to the monitor on account of journey points, earlier than Hamlin took over 44 laps into the race after which went on to earn the win for Almirola, not himself.
Whereas the NASCAR Cup Collection formally ends its common season Saturday night time, and the Truck Collection has already accomplished its common season, the Xfinity Collection nonetheless has two races remaining in its common season, with the following occasion being August 30 on the highway course at Portland Worldwide Raceway.
