After missing one race at Texas and a two-week break in the Xfinity Series schedule, Connor Zilisch is returning to NASCAR this week! A back injury from Talladega kept Zilisch out of his car for a week as Kyle Larson took over at Texas. Now, the 18-year-old is back in the seat.
Well, he is actually back in two seats. Connor Zilisch will race in the Xfinity Series, where he is full-time this season. He is also going to make his second Cup Series start, his first on an oval in the series.
“I’m back,” Zilisch posted on Twitter/X today. “My back is all healed up and I’m ready for a big weekend at Charlotte. I’m pumped to make my second Cup start with Trackhouse and get back in the Xfinity Car with JR Motorsports. Big thanks to everyone who helped me get back so soon!”
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) May 19, 2025
Connor Zilisch will be having a big weekend. He has 900 miles of racing coming up on his schedule. To take on the Coca-Cola 600 in his first Cup Series race on an oval is an immense undertaking. He will be challenged like never before on his endurance, strength, and mental fortitude.
We do not know the extent of Zilisch’s injury. It appears that he had a minor back injury, and perhaps it wasn’t even fractured. But again, we don’t know. So, it will be very interesting to see if Zilisch still has the same feel for the Xfinity car and if it gives him issues in the Cup race.
JR Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing, and Chevy are being very careful with their prized prospect. No need to rush anything. If he is returning this weekend then I think he is ready to go and should more or less be ready to pick up where he left off.
With his absence at Texas, Connor Zilisch took a big hit in the points. He fell to 12th overall in the standings. He was right behind fellow rookie and JR Motorsports teammate, Carson Kvapil, in the top-10 prior to his injury.
Kvapil is now 6th in points, only two points below 5th place, Brandon Jones. Zilisch trails Kvapil by 25 points going into Charlotte. Depending on how the race plays out, he could make big jump in the points and get back into the top-10.
Last season, Zilisch raced at Kansas in the Xfinity Series. That was a strong top-five performance for the young driver in his first oval start in the series. I think he can really come back to the car this week and make some noise. He might not win the race, but he can have a big points day and show that he hasn’t fallen off too much.
Surprisingly, Connor Zilisch is still looking for his second top-five of the season. He has had a few races that have slipped through his fingers. When he starts to cut down on pit road mistakes, on-track mistakes, and racing within himself and the car’s capabilities, he will take the next step.
The pressure this weekend is definitely on Shane van Gisbergen. SVG is going to go head-to-head with his potential replacement at Trackhouse Racing on an oval. If Zilisch manages to have a strong run in the 600 compared to SVG, that could be very bad news for the Kiwi.
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What a weekend it was in Indianapolis. Saturday’s Xfinity Series race certainly delivered plenty of major talking points for the sport. Connor Zilisch once again proved to be arguably the best young talent seen in years. Not to mention his team celebrated a memorable milestone following his win. Plus, Austin Hill sure put himself in some hot water. JRM Reaches 100 Xfinity Series Victories. Meanwhile, Austin Hill is Becoming a Problem JR Motorsports had a lot of hope coming into Indianapolis, with their rookie star Connor Zilisch having won the last two races. He was looking for a third-straight win and also to score that 100th victory for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s team. As were teammates Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Carson Kvapil. It wasn’t an easy task for any of those drivers on Saturday, as Kyle Larson was also in the field. As was Aric Almirola in the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, Almirola had a very unfortunate ending to his day in the closing laps of the race, but more on that later. Would it have been great to see Allgaier get win #100? Sure, but a late race restart saw him and Kyle Larson make contact, and Allgaier ended up wrecked. That opened the door for the freshly turned 19-year-old phenom Zilisch to strike once again. Not only did Connor score his fifth win of the season, but it was his third in a row. Plus, his third win on an oval this season. Connor has all but proven he’s more than just a road course driver. What does 100 victories mean for JRM? JRM has made itself into one of the biggest teams the NASCAR Xfinity Series has to offer, and Zilisch’s win at Indy further proved that. The victory marked the 100th win for JRM, and they certainly don’t look like they will be slowing down anytime soon. It’s not easy to win races in NASCAR, let alone 100 as a team, and JR Motorsports has had some huge names take them to victory lane. From the first in 2008 with Mark Martin in Las Vegas, to Connor’s win on Saturday. Dale Jr has built a machine, and they have created a lot of great drivers. Zilisch is going to be the next one. Suspension or Not? While Zilisch and JRM were taking control in the closing laps, a little further back in the field, a mess was brewing. On lap 91, Aric Almirola was battling with the No. 21 of Austin Hill for position. Almirola made a bit of an aero move, which knocked Hill up the track. Hill saved it but then proceeded to right hook Almirola head-on into the wall. It wasn’t a good move at all by Hill, and it was clearly intentional, as shown in the video. Hill eventually got a penalty from NASCAR, as he was held for five laps. But if that wasn’t enough, he continued to dig himself a bigger hole, honestly. His radio communication was full of profanity, and he told NASCAR itself to f-off. Certainly made a mess of himself. It’s pretty clear that Austin did that intentionally, and the fact that he stands by it, and his car owner, Richard Childress, also defended his actions, isn’t playing into his innocence. Aric could have been hurt. Precedence says Hill won’t be racing at Iowa, but that’s NASCAR’s call. One thing is for sure: this right hooking nonsense is going to get someone hurt. Hill has been known to throw temper tantrums. Look no further than his antics at Martinsville. Great racing at the front and the 100th win for JRM, overshadowed by a driver acting stupid, what else is new?
Only eight plate appearances into his New York Yankees career, Ryan McMahon has already been more productive than the team’s previous third base options. What might sound hyperbolic or outright false at first glance is actually true, at least from a certain point of view. Analytics — specifically, Wins Above Replacement — proves that argument, and it’s one that Yankees manager Aaron Boone should be ashamed of. McMahon went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Sunday’s victory over the Phillies, giving him four hits in his first eight at-bats. FanGraphs ruled that McMahon is already worth 0.2 fWAR through two games in a Yankees uniform. Amazingly, McMahon has a higher fWAR than the trio of DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas, who have played a combined 148 games in the infield thus far. LeMahieu provided -0.1 fWAR over 45 games before being unceremoniously cut earlier this month, while Vivas (-0.2) is currently at Triple-A. Peraza and his -0.6 fWAR remain on the active roster, though he’s shifted into a bench role. Baseball-Reference has been slightly more generous, giving Peraza -0.2 bWAR. Boone stuck with LeMahieu and Peraza until he couldn’t anymore, and it’s partly why the Yankees have dropped to 5 1/2 games back in the AL East. Injuries and age took their toll on LeMahieu, who only played second after returning from calf and hip problems. Peraza owns a .152 average and .452 OPS in 170 plate appearances. We’ll see if McMahon can elevate the Yankees, who open a pivotal four-game set with the rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Luis Díaz’s move to Bayern Munich for a reported €75 million (around £65.5 million, including add-ons) wasn’t just a blockbuster summer transfer; it was a prime example of Liverpool playing the market smartly. While fans might feel watching the Colombian winger leave after three impactful years at Anfield, the reality is that the Reds cashed in at the right time, on their own terms. Bayern’s earlier bid of €67.5 million was turned down, but when Díaz made it clear he was ready for a new challenge, and Liverpool saw contract extension talks stalling, they took control of the situation. The club chose to sell at full market value rather than risk losing a valuable asset for less down the line. In today’s climate, getting top dollar for a player pushing 30 with no new deal in sight is no small achievement. They signed him from Porto in January 2022 for £37.5 million, rising to £50 million with add-ons. The sale now not only brings in profit but also helps Liverpool enhance their galactic transfer window even further. The Reds Played This Window Like Pros Liverpool has had a busy, record-breaking summer of high spending, with over £300 million spent on fresh faces like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. Those names don’t come cheap, but while many clubs overextend during rebuilds, Liverpool has kept things tidy on the financial front. Offloading Díaz, along with departures like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Jarell Quansah, has brought in nearly £125 million in total, helping to balance their books and avoid falling foul of FFP regulations. Liverpool found the sweet spot between emotion and economics in a transfer market where clubs either panic-buy or cling onto stars for too long. No Room For Stalemates Let’s not forget, this wasn’t just about money. Behind the scenes, Díaz’s future was uncertain for months. Liverpool made two attempts to extend his contract, but neither went anywhere. Sources close to the player had hinted at his decision to leave as early as summer 2024, especially after his stock rose following a strong 2023/24 campaign. Bayern came knocking with a better deal in July 2025, and the writing was on the wall. The club’s decision to leave Díaz out of the pre-season friendly against AC Milan, despite no injury concerns, was a clear sign that things were moving quickly. Rather than drag the saga out and risk it affecting the dressing room, Liverpool acted decisively. A Big Departure, But Vision Remains Since his Liverpool debut, Díaz has made 148 appearances, scoring 40+ goals and providing around 23 assists. He was electric, unpredictable, and crucial for the club during the 2024-25 season, notching 17 goals and eight assists in 50 games as the Reds lifted the Premier League title. He offered more than just stats; his flair on the left wing, defensive work rate, and ability to change games were undeniable. Liverpool has a long history of letting stars go when the timing is right, and this move feels consistent with that tradition. A Squad Ready To Evolve With Díaz gone and Darwin Núñez also rumored to be on his way out, Liverpool’s front line is undergoing a reshuffle. The likes of Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and new boy Ekitike give Slot plenty to work with, but the real excitement lies in the club’s pursuit of Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker is being lined up as a potential record-breaking signing, with Liverpool preparing a huge bid to bring the Swedish international to Anfield, and they’re thinking of breaking the British transfer record for the second time in a single window. Isak has reportedly rejected offers from Saudi Arabia, making Liverpool his preferred destination. The Díaz funds could prove vital in landing him, proof that Liverpool aren’t just cashing in, they’re already preparing the next chapter.
CLEVELAND — Emmanuel Clase is officially off the trading block, and not for the reasons the Cleveland Guardians might have hoped. After Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of MLB’s sports-betting investigation on Monday, Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti acknowledged that the high-profile closer wouldn't be a part of any trades before the upcoming MLB trade deadline later this week. "No," Antonetti responded to reporters on Monday afternoon when asked if Clase would potentially be traded. It's a blow to the Guardians, who likely could have received a loaded return had they chosen to move the 27-year-old right-hander. However, with MLB's investigation underway, Clase is now on leave until Aug. 31. It is Major League Baseball's second look at the franchise in terms of potential sports betting following Luis Ortiz being placed on the same kind of leave earlier in July. That means Cleveland is down two relievers, including Clase and his 24 saves posted so far this season. "I think what's important is that we understand what the reality is and figure out how do we move forward from here," Antonetti said. "That's really the focus. "Both guys won't be available to us in the near term, and we need to figure out a way to overcome that. It's not too dissimilar to the moment when players are injured and they're not available to us. We have to find the next group to step up and shoulder a load and find a way to win games. That's really what we're focused on." Antonetti also told reporters that the two relievers will be the last Cleveland players investigated for this type of potential infringement. "We've been informed by Major League Baseball. They were very clear to let us know that they don't expect any other players or staff members," Antonetti said. While Clase may not be off the trading list, Antonetti told reporters it was still very "active" in terms of other teams reaching out to the Guardians around the 6 p.m. (Eastern) Thursday trade deadline. "We're in constant dialogue with a lot of teams," Antonetti said. "We had a lot of dialogue up through this morning and certainly had dialogue over the last few hours. My expectation is that it will continue over the next few days." Antonetti didn't offer a timeline in terms of when Cleveland might hear official rulings from MLB on the investigations. "What I know is that the suspensions are in place through August 31 and then we'll have to see where things are happening," Antonetti said. "Obviously, for everyone, I think you'd prefer to have the clarity sooner rather than later. But I recognize it's a complicated issue and usually baseball has a number of steps they need to work through to complete that investigation." All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.