Connor Zilisch Claims Seventh Pole Position of 2025 at Portland with Raw Speed and Determination

The smell of rubber burning on asphalt and the roar of engines filled the air at Portland International Raceway as Connor Zilisch absolutely dominated qualifying on Saturday. The young JR Motorsports driver laid down a blistering lap at 96.648 mph to secure his seventh career NASCAR Xfinity Series pole position, and man, you could feel the electricity in the air when he crossed the finish line.

Connor Zilisch’s Pole Performance Shows Championship Mettle

Zilisch didn’t just win this pole. He earned it with pure, unfiltered speed that left everyone else shaking their heads in awe. This marks his sixth pole of the 2025 season, and watching him work behind the wheel was nothing short of spectacular. The kid from Mooresville, North Carolina, has been on an absolute tear lately, and Portland was just another chapter in what’s becoming one heck of a story.

“Sure is fun to be fast,” Zilisch said after climbing out of his WeatherTech Chevrolet, and you could see the genuine excitement in his eyes. That’s the kind of honest, straightforward response that makes you remember why you fell in love with racing in the first place. No manufactured drama, no corporate speak, but just a driver who loves going fast and isn’t afraid to admit it.

The qualifying session itself was a real nail-biter. JR Motorsports locked up the entire front row, with Justin Allgaier sliding into the second starting spot right alongside his teammate. That’s the kind of team performance that championships are built on, and it shows just how well the entire JR Motorsports organization has been performing this season.

The Path to Victory Lane Starts at the Front

Starting from pole position at Portland gives Connor Zilisch a massive advantage heading into Sunday’s Pacific Office Automation 147. This isn’t just about track position. It’s about momentum, confidence, and the psychological edge that comes with being the fastest qualifier. When you’ve got the speed to win the pole, you’ve got the speed to win the race, and Zilisch knows it.

The third spot went to Austin Hill, while William Sawalich, fresh off his ARCA Menards Series West victory on Friday, rolled into fourth. Sam Mayer rounds out the top five, setting up what should be an absolutely incredible battle for the lead once that green flag drops at Portland International Raceway.

Connor Zilisch Faces Adversity Head-On

Saturday’s qualifying session wasn’t without its drama. The red flag came out just three minutes into group A when Thomas Annunziata’s car stopped on the course, creating some real tension in the garage area. Around the same time, Jack Perkins found himself struggling through turns 10, 11, and 12, which had been giving drivers fits all weekend long.

These kinds of moments separate the champions from the also-rans. While other teams were dealing with mechanical issues and track position problems, Zilisch and his JR Motorsports crew stayed focused on their mission. That’s championship-level execution right there, and it’s exactly what you want to see from a driver who’s clearly got his sights set on bigger things.

The drama continued when Taylor Gray’s team had to work on fuel system issues, scrambling to get their car back on track with just five minutes left in his qualifying group. Will Brown’s No. 11 team faced their own mechanical demons, working frantically underneath their car in the garage area before ultimately starting from the back of the field.

Building Momentum for Championship Glory

Connor Zilisch comes into Portland riding high after Parker Kligerman’s victory at Daytona International Speedway last weekend. However, that win came with its own unique circumstances when Kligerman stepped into the car during the first caution. Now Zilisch has the chance to get back to his winning ways, and starting from pole position gives him the best possible shot at making it happen.

The young driver has shown incredible maturity and racecraft throughout the 2025 season, and his pole position performance at Portland is just the latest example of why so many people believe he’s destined for greatness. When you watch him work behind the wheel, you see a driver who understands what it takes to win at the highest level of motorsports.

Saturday Night’s Race Promises Fireworks

With 37 cars entered and all of them making the field, Saturday night’s Pacific Office Automation 147 is shaping up to be an absolute barn-burner. The race gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, and if you’re not planning to tune in, you’re missing out on what could be one of the best races of the entire season. Connor Zilisch has the pole, he’s got the speed, and most importantly, he’s got the hunger that separates the champions from everyone else.

Portland International Raceway is about to witness something special, and Zilisch is ready to deliver the kind of performance that racing fans will be talking about for years to come. The stage is set, the cars are prepared, and Connor Zilisch is sitting pretty on the pole with nothing but green flag racing ahead of him. Sometimes in racing, everything clicks at the right moment, and for Zilisch at Portland, that moment is right now.