- Zilisch finds winning form in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
- Late-race tire strategy helped Zilisch secure the win.
- Tire wear in the O’Reilly race hints at how the Cup event could go.
Saturday turned into a JR Motorsports day, with the outfit locking out first and second through drivers moonlighting from Cup duty in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In fact, by the end of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, four JRM entries had parked inside the top five.
For long stretches, it looked like Kyle Larson had the field covered after pacing most of the laps, but a call from crew chief Rodney Childers and a drive from Connor Zilisch turned the race on its head. Zilisch stormed late to claim his 12th series win after collecting 10 last year, after Cup outings spent mired in traffic lately. Larson led 230 of 300 laps, yet left with second place.
What happened on Saturday?
The race got altered by tire wear, or rather, the lack of it. Larson led with Justin Allgaier alongside him when the engine in Mason Maggio’s No. 91 DGM Racing Chevrolet let go on the backstretch, filling the “Last Great Colosseum” with smoke. Maggio guided the car to pit road, where flames followed, and crew members from Allgaier’s team helped him out. He walked away unhurt.
After a red flag lasting three minutes and five seconds, Larson resumed command until Gray Gaulding spun in Turn 1 on Lap 270, bringing out the seventh caution. That was the moment Childers rolled the dice, keeping Zilisch on older tires. Corey Day stayed out as well.
From there, the race turned into a scrap. Larson, Zilisch, and Brent Crews traded blows until the eighth caution, triggered by Anthony Alfredo spinning on the frontstretch, slowed proceedings for the last time. On the restart, Zilisch held his ground as rivals lost grip. Larson slipped in Turn 4 with just over two laps left, handing Zilisch the gap he needed to seal the win by 0.703 seconds.
The victory was Childers’ first in the series after years atop the pit box in Cup competition, largely with Kevin Harvick. Zilisch laid out what led to their win: “We played strategy. Rodney made a great call to keep us out. The tires weren’t wearing much all night, and we were able to get the track position we needed to go out and win the race.”
What could this indicate about Sunday’s NASCAR Cup race?
If Saturday offered clues, Sunday may follow the same scene but with a slight bit of twist. Tire wear remained limited, meaning whatever rubber was laid down will still remain on the track, which could further reduce wear once Cup cars hit the track.
But then again, Cup teams will arrive with a new package and tire setup, with Goodyear supplying right- and left-side compounds designed to handle temperature shifts. Sunday also lines up as the warmest day of the weekend, with temperatures set to cross 80° and peak at 84°, turning the surface into a test of control. Heat tends to help rubber settle in, which could steady wear compared to cooler runs.
NASCAR has increased the Horsepower of the Next Gen cars for the short tracks to 750 HP, which leans the other way by increasing strain on tires. One side tries to rein in wear, the other pushes it back up. The target is in the middle, where tires wear over a 50- to 60-lap fuel run, forcing teams to weigh track position against fresh rubber.
And then putting more power through softer rubber, drivers will walk a line. Pushing too soon will cause the tires to give up within 30 laps, leaving the car exposed, as in the March 2024 race. Holding back may delay the payoff. That trade-off could open the door for passes and split strategies.
