Connor Zilisch wins Portland XFinity Race if rookies take the top four places

Connor Zilisch passed Austin Hill at an overtime re-start and won Saturday’s Xfinity race in Portland International Raceway, with a 1-2-3-4 final by smoke drivers.

This is the first time in the series of history that rookies scored the top four places in a race.

The victory is Zilisch’s series highest eighth of the season-most in the history of Xfinity in a season for a newcomer. That’s his sixth victory in the last seven races. The JR Motorsports driver also won both phases on Saturday.

Zilisch is the third manager to finish in the top five in 13 consecutive races and only since Carl Edwards in 2008-09.

The top four Afrikaans was Krookies: Zilisch, William Sawalich (the best second place in the career), Nick Sanchez (third) and Christian Eckes (fourth). Hill completed the top five. Carson Kvapil placed sixth and clinched a play -off match.

The Nascar play -offs start at “The Track Tooik to tame.”

Zilisch led the first 67 rounds in the 78-Round race before losing the lead to Hill on a late restart. A warning on lap 72 sent the race to overtime and Zilisch, who started the second time, took the lead from Hill and left to win.

Harrison Burton holds the final play -off game with 31 points on cousin Jeb Burton who is on the road next weekend’s regular seasonal final on World Wide Technology Raceway. Harrison Burton finishes 12th. Jeb Burton was seventh.

Phase 1 winner: Connor Zilisch

Phase 2 winner: Connor Zilisch

Following: The series rushes at 19:30 ET Saturday, September 6 at World Wide Technology Raceway in the regular season final.