Sportscasting | Pure Sports
Home / NASCAR / NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Pacific Office Automation 147 Action At Portland International Raceway

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Pacific Office Automation 147 Action At Portland International Raceway

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Updated –
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. Ads on our site are served by Google AdSense and are not controlled or influenced by our editorial team.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Pacific Office Automation 147 Action At Portland International Raceway

Outside of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim, who is gunning for a single-season win record, is there a more confident pilot than Xfinity Series’ Connor Zilisch?

The rookie captured his sixth win in his past seven starts and continues to prove he will be a future force on road courses. Since returning from a one-race absence because of a back injury, Zilisch has recorded 13 consecutive top-five finishes. He posted his series-best eighth win this season, matching Heim’s mark.

The series’ rookie-of-the-year-in-waiting earned Saturday night’s Pacific Office Automation 147 title at Portland International Raceway by going the wrong way.

After getting the jump on Austin Hill on the overtime restart, Zilisch missed a turn and drove off the road course, but remained in front after navigating his way through the outside-the-lines maze.

X (Twitter) users responded to Zilisch crossing the finish line 1.567 seconds ahead of Sawalich. After breaking his collarbone after a recent win, Zilisch executed a much safer exit …

Earlier Saturday at Darlington Raceway, Heim earned a playoff-opening trip to Victory Lane. It was his eighth win of the season …

Going green on the Western style road course …

Zilisch dominated early …

No. 14?????????????? failed to make the turn – and went for a dirty spin …

Hill (21) makes a move on Justin Allgaier …

Zilisch carried the early momentum to a Stage 1 win …

Jesse Love’s machine departed the action …

Zilisch earned the two-stage sweep …

Rookie Carson Kvapil (1) executed a statement maneuver …

Sheldon Creed went around – and out of contention …

Hill overtook Zilisch and claimed the lead on the Stage 3 restart, before another pileup transpired …

Free racin’ …

Zilisch executed a race-saving move …

Thank you, rook …

Zilisch burns out in celebration. The circuit’s final regular-season event will be staged next Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 12-team postseason begins Sept. 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway …

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
All posts by Jeff Hawkins
Other News