Connor Zilisch gets the best of Larson and Crews, wins Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Connor Zilisch and Rodney Childers gambled on strategy late to win the Suburban Propane 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

This victory marked his 12th career series win and now his first with crew chief Rodney Childers and at a short track.

Zilisch started 15th and carved steadily through the field, working his way inside the top five by the final stage.

He kept race leader Kyle Larson honest through a long green flag run before the penultimate caution flew with around 20 laps to go.

Three teams gambled on staying out with used tires to take on Larson. Zilisch and Brent Crews jumped to the front row and briefly pulled away but another caution flew just two laps later, setting up a three-way showdown at the Last Great Coliseum.

Crews threw everything he had at a maiden O’Reilly Series win, but a hard shot into the outside wall dropped him to third in the fight and ultimately the finish.

That left the two Cup Series drivers in their JR Motorsports rides to settle it themselves with under ten laps to go. With roughly five remaining, Larson entered a corner too hot, his Chevrolet stepped out, and Zilisch needed no second invitation to walk away with the win from there.

Larson led a race-high 230 laps but fell just short of the ultimate prize. Zilisch, meanwhile, added another track type to an already compelling case as one of the most complete drivers as only a teenager.

Notable Finishes

Justin Allgaier was a favorite and looked like a contender all night. He ran inside the top five throughout, but came up short in fourth.

He didn’t leave Thunder Valley empty-handed, though as he claimed another Dash4Cash victory and pocketed an extra $100,000.

Carson Kvapil extended his strong Bristol record with a fifth-place finish. The near-weekly car swaps have not seemed to slow him down much.

Sheldon Creed and the Haas Factory Team brought quick Chevrolets to the Tennessee border and sat third before the final round of cautions, but wound up sixth by the checkered flag.

William Sawalich backed up his Rockingham win with a pole and another solid day, finishing seventh.

Corey Day delivered a fitting eighth for his eighth consecutive top ten in the series.

Parker Retzlaff started ninth and finished ninth, to continue a promising start with his new team.

Taylor Gray rounded out the top ten as 36 of the 38 entrants completed the race with Mason Maggio retiring up in flames from an engine failure and Garrett Smithley who ran out of horsepower in his chariot inspired paint scheme.

Below is the full results of the Suburban Propane 300, O’Reilly Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Full Bristol O’Reilly Series Results