Connor Zilisch didn’t win, didn’t have a clean race, but reminded everyone watching that speed, determination, and sheer audacity can be more entertaining than a checkered flag.
Some drivers sulk in second; van Gisbergen smiles like he’s already planning how to take the win next time.
In a sport built to stop streaks, Tyler Reddick just shrugged and opened the season with three straight wins — and wrote his name in NASCAR history while he was at it.
With five laps left and common sense politely excused from the building, Shane van Gisbergen dove four-wide into Turn 1 at Circuit of the Americas and turned a restart into a coronation.
Before last Sunday, five drivers had won the first two races of a season at NASCAR’s highest level. None of the five succeeded in winning a third straight race.
NASCAR has issued penalties to Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, as well as the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, following incidents during last Sunday’s Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).
Looking at the stats from Chase Elliott’s weekend at Circuit of the Americas, you might think he had himself a solid outing.
In two of the last five races at Circuit of the Americas, Christopher Bell has denied Kyle Busch a chance at victory. After Sunday, make that three.
To some, Connor Zilisch is the second coming of a NASCAR Jesus, a prodigy sent from above to shake up stock car racing as we know it.
Connor Zilisch made his drive at Circuit of The Americas much more impressive than it had to be.