Connor Zilisch dominated the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Portland International Speedway this past Saturday, leading 70 of 78 laps to claim his eighth win of the 2025 season. However, the finish of the race sparked debate due to the final restart in overtime when Zilisch appeared to bypass a key section of the track, creating controversy around his victory.
On the final restart, Zilisch led the pack but locked up his brakes approaching Turn 1. Instead of navigating the corner, he steered left through the A-frame penalty area, an area designed to penalize drivers who miss the corner. This move allowed him to emerge well ahead while the rest of the field collided further back at Turn 1. NASCAR did not penalize Zilisch for this maneuver.
Denny Hamlin Voices Concerns Over Zilisch’s Race Finish
Veteran driver Denny Hamlin addressed the controversy during Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast, expressing unease with how Zilisch secured the win. Hamlin described the finish as highly questionable and criticized the strategy Zilisch employed to avoid risk on the tricky corner.
It was very controversial in the way he won it,
Hamlin said.
… I guess the uproar is that they feel he didn’t even attempt to make the first corner. He had it in his mind the entire time that I’m just going to blow this, run that chicane and see where I net out. That does two things for him. One, it’s really not that big of a time loss. Two, it would be well, now I’m gonna avoid the corner where the incidents happen the most often. You take yourself out of the opportunity of getting wrecked.
Hamlin added further criticism of NASCAR’s handling of chicanes, pointing out that drivers have exploited such areas without receiving penalties.
Is there any doubt that the best car won? No. Or the best driver won? No. That’s just not good sport. Not on Connor’s part, I’m talking about on the sport. You gotta do better than that,
Hamlin said.
These chicanes have been exposed for a few years now, and you haven’t figured out a way to actually make them penalize you when you miss the track? Just poor planning. Poor lots of stuff.
Zilisch’s Perspective and Impact on the Season Standings
Despite the controversy, Zilisch maintained that his maneuver was unplanned but necessary when he realized he would not make Turn 1. Reflecting on the moment, he described the incident as a last-ditch effort rather than a calculated shortcut.
It’s kind of funny, I ran it in practice, and I was like, ‘it’s not even that slow,’
Zilisch said.
As soon as I hit the brakes, I wheel-hopped, but kind of committed to it as soon as I realized I wasn’t going to make the corner. And it worked out. I wasn’t really planning on it, but last resort, you’ve gotta do what you gotta do.
Zilisch’s win came just two weeks after returning from collarbone surgery, underscoring his resilience. With this victory, he extended his regular-season points lead ahead of JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier, solidifying his strong standing in the championship battle.
Concerns About NASCAR’s Track Design and Future Implications
While Zilisch’s driving skill remains unquestioned, the incident highlights ongoing issues with NASCAR‘s approach to track layouts, particularly the effectiveness of chicanes in enforcing fair competition. Hamlin’s remarks suggest that without clearer penalties for missing sections like the A-frame area, drivers may continue to exploit these rules to their advantage, potentially undermining the integrity of races.
The debate stemming from the Portland finish may prompt NASCAR officials to review and adjust track penalty zones to prevent similar controversies in future events, aiming to balance competitive racing with fair play.
