The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Connor Zilisch and Shane Van Gisbergen might be full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers now, but that hasn’t stopped them from coming down to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series to compete on road courses, and in doing so, are dominating the speed charts.
In what many expected to be a battle amongst the teammates (both in the NASCAR Cup Series at Trackhouse Racing and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at JR Motorsports), the two drivers delivered and will start 1-2 for Saturday’s Focused Health 250.
Zilisch, driving the No. 1 Roto-Rooter Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, posted the fastest lap time in the two groups combined qualifying sessions, getting around the racetrack in 97.740 seconds (88.398mph).
“We had a bit of an issue in practice and cut a tire down and we had to make some adjustments on the front end to not do that again, but the entire No. 1 crew, it’s great to be here with Rodney and his experience, and everyone here in this JR Motorsports team,” said Zilisch. “It’s been a lot of fun getting back with these guys in the O’Reilly car, I’m glad to be coming back and racing these cars they’re a lot of fun.”
The lap was more than two-tenths of a second quicker than Shane Van Gisbergen’s time in the No. 9 SafetyCulture Chevrolet Camaro, a fifth entry for JR Motorsports. Granted, that time was still plenty quick enough for a runner-up spot.
Another four-tenths of a second behind Van Gisbergen, and a whopping six-tenths off polesitter Connor Zilisch was Austin Hill, who will start third in Saturday’s event in Austin, Texas.
STARTING LINEUP: NOAPS Focused Health 250 at COTA
Qualifying his No. 20 Menards Toyota GR Supra in fourth-place, Brandon Jones recorded his best start in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on a road course since 2020.
Justin Allgaier was the third quickest of the five entries fielded by JR Motorsports this weekend, in fifth. Just behind him, though, in a pseudo JR Motorsports entry (a DGM Racing-fielded Chevrolet prepared by JRM) was Carson Kvapil, putting up another impressive COTA effort in sixth.
Brent Crews, making his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra, put forward an impressive run at COTA on Friday, qualifying in seventh.
Haas Factory Team teammates Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed were eighth and ninth, with Sammy Smith completing the top-10. Jesse Love, the series’ defending champion was just behind in 11th.
Some impressive runs inside the top-20 in Friday’s group qualifying session included Corey Day in 12th, Austin Green in 13th, Anthony Alfredo in 16th, Preston Pardus in 17th, and Nick Sanchez in 20th.
Sage Karam, driving the No. 55 for Joey Gase Motorsports, put together an incredible qualifying lap for the team and will start Saturday’s event in 22nd.
With 40 drivers entered in the Focused Health 250, two teams had to pack up and head home before the green flag on Saturday: Hettinger Racing (Tyler Gonzalez) and DGM Racing (Josh Williams).
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) will take place on Saturday, February 28 at 3:00 PM ET on The CW, Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
