NASCAR
Connor Zilisch Wins Bristol with JR Motorsports
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Saturday may have been largely dominated by Kyle Larson, but it was another JR Motorsports Chevrolet in Bristol victory lane. Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch dropped back down to race O’Reilly and upset the No. 88 late. The phenom took the No. 1 to P1 on older tires. Zilisch is a winner yet again in O’Reilly competition, but now with legendary crew chief Rodney Childers.
From the third starting spot, Kyle Larson took the No. 88 Chevrolet to a commanding Stage 1 win. This effort was repeated in the second stage, with the defending winner looking as dominant as ever around one of his favorite racetracks.
Larson’s apparent march back to Bristol victory lane only hit a speed bump inside the final 30 laps. Larson opted to pit for tires with most of the leaders, while three others stayed out. Connor Zilisch inherited the top spot, leading to a spirited battle with his best friend Brent Crews. Combined with Larson regaining lost ground, this three-car fight for the win was worth the price of admission. Ultimately Zilisch was able to hold off both fast drivers behind him, taking his first win of 2026.
“Yeah man that’s awesome,” Zilisch said. “It’s been a tough psst few weeks for me in the Cup Series, it feels good to come back down here into the O’Reilly Series and remember that I can still do it. It’s tough, you finish in the back every week and you forget who you are. This feel good. Rodney [Childers, crew chief] played strategy to keep us out, the tires weren’t wearing much all night, and we were able to get the track position needed to win the race. Really cool to race against Kyle and learn from him. He’s so talented and such a fast racecar driver. Good to be back with JRM and back in victory lane.”
“Rodney’s won a lot of races in his career, but it’s cool to get one with him. To get him his first in the O’Reilly Series with JRM, he works super hard and is super smart. It means a lot to work with him. Hell yeah Bristol!!”
Behind the front trio of Zilisch, Larson, and Crews were Dash4Cash winner Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil. The rest of the Bristol top 10 were: Sheldon Creed, William Sawalich, Corey Day, Parker Retzlaff, and Taylor Gray. Hear from a few of these drivers and others’ post-race thoughts below.
.@KyleLarsonRacin says the pace picked up and he just built too loose over the last run to close in.
The defending O’Reilly Bristol winner comes home 2nd tonight. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/cEYuIm6mg7
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2026
.@Brentcrews says there’s nobody he’d rather lose to than his best friend @ConnorZilisch, them plus Larson put on a show over the last few laps tonight. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/pxNiPg1ONn
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2026
After starting in the rear tonight @Carson_Kvapil brings the @JRMotorsports 9 home in 5th, and says it was cool to see @RodneyChilders4 and the 1 team take the checkers with @ConnorZilisch. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ywLG7ztqjg
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2026
.@bradxperez talks through his mid-race substitution drive for @LoganBearden_ in the @youngsmtrsports 42, his first ever laps around @ItsBristolBaby.
He texted his best friend @MyattSnider for advice before hopping in the car, thankfully not knocking the wall down.… pic.twitter.com/5HMIuNbSr4
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2026
.@blake_lothian survives his first trip to @ItsBristolBaby with the @J_G_Motorsports 35 team, saying @iRacing helped but didn’t have the massive G-forces or the PJ1. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/3vJTBcgEjt
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) April 12, 2026
O’Reilly cars will be back in action next week from Kansas Speedway. The Kansas Lottery 300 goes green Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo credit to Matt Kelley/Getty Images
