2024 Xfinity season is the first in 15 years to have two debutant polesitters ft. Connor Zilisch at Watkins Glen

Following his pole position at Watkins Glen in the Mission 200, Connor Zilisch has become the second debutant driver to claim a pole in the 2024 Xfinity Series season. Jesse Love claimed a pole earlier at Daytona, and this made the 2024 Xfinity the first season in 15 years to have two debutant drivers start the race from first position.

Zilisch claimed the pole position on Saturday (September 14) in the Mission 200 at The Glen ahead of Ty Gibbs and AJ Allmendinger. His best time around the Watkins Glen International Speedway was 71.028, over a tenth faster than Gibbs.

With this, he matched Love who claimed a pole position at Daytona, that too in his first debut race in the Xfinity Series. According to statistics, this is the third time NASCAR has experienced such a unique phenomenon in Xfinity history.

Mike Porter and David Pearson won a pole in the debut race back in 1982, and the feat was repeated in 2009. Now, coming into 2024, Zilisch and Love matched the record that too after 15 long years.

Interestingly, Connor Zilisch not only stopped at the pole position, but also claimed the race win in the Mission 200 on Saturday against the likes of William Byron, Ty Gibbs, AJ Allmendinger, Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Joey Logano.

With this, he became one of the seven drivers to win a debut race in the Xfinity Series. Besides Zilisch, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Joe Ruttman, Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte, Kurt Busch, and Ty Gibbs all won their debut race in the series.

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Connor Zilisch left speechless following his maiden Xfinity Series victory

Connor Zilisch (center) raises the winner’s trophy in victory lane after winning the Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Connor Zilisch's much-anticipated debut race at Watkins Glen has concluded and the #88 man did not disappoint. The young driver held his nerve, defied two tense overtimes, and in the end, triumphed at The Glen.

Speaking about what the victory meant for him, the 18-year-old said in the post-race interview with a NASCAR reporter:

“I don’t even have words. I’ve worked so hard for this one. I’ve been working for this one for months and it’s so special to me man. I don’t even have words right now.

"I don’t know how I saved enough, I sputtered up the hill with two to go I didn’t think I was going to make it back to the line, I was saving the last two laps. But man, I’m going to enjoy this one for a while," he added.

The JR Motorsport driver was thoroughly dominant in the race as he claimed Stage 1 victory, finished Stage 2 in third position, and defied the NASCAR penalty to come home and take the triumph.