With top Toyota drivers like Denny Hamlin winning the second round of the playoffs at Gateway and Chase Briscoe clinching a win at the playoff season opener at the Southern 500, JGR looks fierce. But this time, another driver has stolen the headlines. As the action heats up at Bristol Motor Speedway, the team has carved out a strong foothold on the high-banked short track, but in doing so, they have also managed to crash a superstar’s perfect streak, reminding everyone that even the hottest runs in NASCAR aren’t untouchable.

And this driver is none other than Aric Almirola! The 41-year-old pulled off a heart-stopping win at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, taking the checkered flag in the No. 19 Toyota by a mere 0.381 seconds over Sheldon Creed. Starting third, he wasted no time making his presence known, leading 34 laps in total and dominating for 20 laps in the top five and 292 laps in the top 10. With only two pit stops, the last one a full 116 laps before the finish, he combined speed, smarts, and patience to stay in the hunt, posting his fastest lap of 16.179 seconds on lap 224.

From the green flag to the final lap, Almirola was a masterclass in control and aggression. On lap 283, he led the restart from the outside lane, slicing past Carson Kvapil for the lead while Sam Mayer hovered just behind like a shadow. By lap 291, the tension was palpable. Mayer, a whisper away at 0.203 seconds, Creed closing in for third, and Almirola holding the line with nerves of steel. Every lap felt like a chess match at 118 mph, with Almirola positioning himself perfectly for fending off relentless challengers.

Pit strategy was where the part-timer shone. When most lead-lap cars headed to pit road on lap 266, Aric Almirola hung back in second, keeping his track position and setting himself up to reclaim the lead at the restart. Tire management, track savvy, and split-second timing allowed him to keep competitors at bay, turning the high-banked chaos of Bristol into a stage where he could shine. It wasn’t luck; it was calculated brilliance.

Moreover, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver reflected on his decision to run the race on older tires: “Yeah, I’ve just been tired of getting beat by those guys. I figured I’d try my chances with the lead. They’ve been so fast, and they fire off so fast on new cars, I just didn’t think I could beat them straight up on tires. It took me about 20 laps to get going, so I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires.”

And this victory was a remarkable achievement, especially considering his part-time status with Joe Gibbs Racing. His win at Bristol, which is known for challenging short-track racing, showcased his experience and ability to perform under pressure. But this also shakes the playoff standings.

While some drivers, such as Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Carson Kvapil, performed well, others fell out of the Round of 8 needed to proceed to a championship. However, for others, the concrete high-bank action took a toll on their playoff positions. Sammy Smith entered the Round of 12 opener in a precarious position, just four points above the cut line. Unfortunately, his race at Bristol cut the downturn, culminating in a 37th-place finish, and dropped him 24 points below the cut line.

Other notable drivers facing elimination include Austin Hill of Richard Childress Racing, trailing by 16 points. Additionally, Jesse Love, who is adamant about making it into the Championship 4, is also below the cut line with -3 points. However, Xfinity and JR Motorsports superstar Connor Zilisch remains safe.

Connor Zilisch retains a strong position despite a winless Bristol race

Connor Zilisch rolled off the grid in fourth, but by the end of stage one, he had already muscled his way into second. When Stage 2 arrived, the JR Motorsports driver really hit the afterburners. In a jaw-dropping move on the very last lap of the stage, Zilisch slipped past Sam Mayer to steal the lead, and just when it seemed like he’d have to settle for runner-up, he spotted a lane, went for it, and made the pass stick, giving fans a preview of the fireworks we’d see later in the race.

All night long, Zilisch, Mayer, and Justin Allgaier were the standouts at Bristol, trading blows at the sharp end of the field. And if the trend was any indication, it was always going to come down to one of those three. For Zilisch, Stage 2 was the deal. Even when his first attempt at a pass didn’t work, he stayed patient, regrouped, and still found a way to make it happen before the green and white checkout flag waved. Backed by the No. 88 Chevrolet team, he entered the race with a 59-point cushion and left with an even bigger one, padding his advantage to an 85-point cushion thanks to a fifth-place finish. Dale Jr. was certain that Connor would win 10 races this season, and the best is yet to come.

After the race, Zilisch summed it up with his trademark humility, saying, “We put ourselves in a good position and had a chance at it (win). But, not tonight.” However, the stats tell the rest of the story. Bristol marked Zilisch’s 15th consecutive top-five finish, a new series record, and his 16th top five of the season. Add that to his nine victories, the most of anyone this year, and it’s clear he has been the benchmark all season long. With that, Zilisch isn’t just in the mix; he is setting the pace.