Connor Zilisch Wins Eighth NASCAR Xfinity Pole at Gateway

Connor Zilisch secured the pole position for the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular-season finale at World Wide Technology Raceway, marking the eighth pole of his career and seventh of the 2025 season. He narrowly edged out fellow Chevrolet driver Nick Sanchez by .027 seconds in a record-setting qualifying session where eight drivers broke the previous track qualifying record. The top qualifiers included William Sawalich, Sam Mayer, and Taylor Gray, with Harrison Burton starting sixth, positioned on the playoff cutline. Several drivers, including Ryan Sieg and Jeb Burton, face critical races to secure playoff spots, with Sieg needing a win and Burton trailing the cutline by 31 points. The Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog race will determine the playoff field and airs at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW. Zilisch's consistent high performance this season, including multiple wins and poles across various track types, positions him as a leading contender in the playoff race.