It was a back to back at Iowa Speedway for Pinnacle Racing Group, this time with hot shoe Connor Zilisch holding off a tough few battles with William Sawalich on several late race restarts and some tough contact.
“I don’t know what I could have done different…I feel like he just drove up the track and tried wrecking me. Then he about tried right hooking me down the back straightaway. I’ll have to talk to him and ask him what he wants me to do differently. It’s racing…I understand if he has to get me back once or twice, but you know I feel like he was pretty rough on me,” Zilisch said post-race on the contact with the 18 on several restarts.
FRONT ROW CONTACT ON THE RESTART!@WilliamSawalich ? @ConnorZilisch @iowaspeedway | #Atlas150 | @FS1 pic.twitter.com/TEDzz6hs4o
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 15, 2024
The Mooresville NC native was dominate, taking the lead just before the first race break from the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18. He’s now gone back to back wins in both the ARCA Menards Series East races, as well as back to back in combination races for the ARCA Menards Series and East platforms.
“I can’t say enough about my entire Pinnacle Racing Group team. We worked really hard to bring cars this fast to the race track…It’s just a true team effort to get these wins.”
Meanwhile on the other side of pit road, Sawalich talked about his frustration. “He jumped the start on one restart there. Lost a little bit of respect for him there. Other than that I tried everything I could,” he said post-race.
“A lot of effort. Especially the team…Our Starkey SoundGear Toyota was really good tonight. Had the speed, just not enough there at the end,” the second place finisher added.
After a spins near the second race break, Gio Ruggiero and his VMS No. 20 were able to rebound to third. Mason Mitchell came home fourth in his return to the ARCA Menards Series, and Andy Jankowiak managed to come home fifth.
Solid nights were shared for several races. In his debut, Christopher Tate came home in tenth. Fast Track Racing teammate Michael Maples also took home a career best of 14th on the night.
Tough nights came for several drivers who were fighting for the points lead going into tonight.
Here’s a replay of that wreck between the 35 and 22, that collected the 17. #ARCA
pic.twitter.com/498wUcS5b2— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) June 15, 2024
While they faltered, Andres Perez was able to capitalize on their misfortunes, finishing sixth and now holding a 33-point lead on Van Alst.
Up next, the ARCA Menards Series tackles the twists and turns of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on June 21st on FS2, while the East Series takes a break for a bit until Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 19th on FS1.
Official Results from the Atlas 150 at Iowa Speedway
| Fin | St | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Diff | Status | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 28 | Connor Zilisch | Pinnacle Racing Group Chevrolet Performance Chevrolet | 150 | -- | Running | 48 |
| 2 | 4 | 18 | William Sawalich | Joe Gibbs Racing Starkey-Soundgear Toyota | 150 | 0.513 | Running | 43 |
| 3 | 1 | 20 | Gio Ruggiero | Venturini Motorsports JBL Toyota | 150 | 0.943 | Running | 42 |
| 4 | 6 | 23 | Mason Mitchell | Sigma Performance Services Karl Chevrolet-B-Bop’s-SPS Chevrolet | 150 | 1.452 | Running | 40 |
| 5 | 9 | 73 | Andy Jankowiak | KLAS Motorsports Acacia Energy Toyota | 150 | 2.063 | Running | 39 |
| 6 | 7 | 2 | Andres Perez | Rev Racing Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet | 150 | 2.216 | Running | 38 |
| 7 | 3 | 55 | Gus Dean | Venturini Motorsports VMS Toyota | 150 | 2.747 | Running | 37 |
| 8 | 8 | 25 | Toni Breidinger | Venturini Motorsports Ruedubusch Toyota | 150 | 3.077 | Running | 36 |
| 9 | 10 | 6 | Lavar Scott | Rev Racing Max Siegel Inc Chevrolet | 150 | 3.115 | Running | 35 |
| 10 | 19 | 10 | Chris Tate | Fast Track Racing T-Top Manufacturing Toyota | 150 | 4.244 | Running | 34 |
| 11 | 13 | 32 | Christian Rose | AM Racing West Virginia Department of Tourism Ford | 150 | 4.695 | Running | 33 |
| 12 | 18 | 39 | D.L. Wilson | CW Motorsports ETR-Heart O’ Texas Speedway Toyota | 150 | 6.817 | Running | 32 |
| 13 | 20 | 99 | Michael Maples | Fast Track Racing Don Ray Petroleum LLC-Maples Motorsports Chevrolet | 147 | 3 laps | Running | 31 |
| 14 | 21 | 03 | Alex Clubb | Clubb Racing Inc. Race Parts Liquidators-Drop The Hammer Auctions Ford | 140 | 10 laps | Running | 30 |
| 15 | 17 | 12 | Ryan Roulette | Fast Track Racing Bellator Recruiting Academy-VFW Ford | 132 | 18 laps | Running | 29 |
| 16 | 5 | 15 | Kris Wright | Venturini Motorsports FNB Corporation Toyota | 121 | 29 laps | Out | 28 |
| 17 | 22 | 06 | Kevin Hinckle | Wayne Peterson Racing KH Automotive Toyota | 118 | 32 laps | Running | 27 |
| 18 | 16 | 93 | Cody Dennison | CW Motorsports Timcast.com Chevrolet | 117 | 33 laps | Out | 26 |
| 19 | 23 | 98 | Dale Shearer | Shearer Speed Racing Shearer Speed Toyota | 72 | 78 laps | Out | 25 |
| 20 | 15 | 11 | Zachary Tinkle | Fast Track Racing Racing For Rescues Fast Track Toyota | 71 | 79 laps | Out | 24 |
| 21 | 25 | 31 | Rita Goulet | Rise Motorsports NationPolice.org Chevrolet | 67 | 83 laps | Out | 23 |
| 22 | 14 | 17 | Marco Andretti | Cook Racing Technoligies Group 1001 Chevrolet | 24 | 126 laps | Out | 22 |
| 23 | 11 | 35 | Greg Van Alst | Van Alst Motorsports CB Fabricating-Top Choice Fence Ford | 23 | 127 laps | Out | 21 |
| 24 | 12 | 22 | Amber Balcaen | Venturini Motorsports Icon Toyota | 23 | 127 laps | Out | 20 |
| 25 | 26 | 86 | Presley Sorah | Clubb Racing Inc. Race Parts Liquidators-Drop The Hammer Auctions Ford | 6 | 144 laps | Out | 19 |
| 26 | 24 | 48 | Brad Smith | Brad Smith Motorsports Copraya.com Ford | 1 | 149 laps | Out | 18 |
