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Aric Almirola bests Connor Zilisch in epic NASCAR battle at Las Vegas

JHby: Jonathan Howard10/12/25Jondean25
Aric Almirola NASCAR Las Vegas
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

What a finish! Las Vegas delivered tonight in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Aric Almirola held off Connor Zilisch for the win. The two drivers fought and sliced and diced with each other on the track. In the end, the 19 had what it took to take the checkered flag.

Aric Almirola was the best driver of the day. He led over 100 laps, and when the race came down to a 23-lap run to the finish, he knew what he had to do. Zilisch showed great maturity and once again racecraft tonight. But it was the veteran who knows this track so well who took the win.

Not once, but twice, Almirola and Zilisch touched while racing hard today at Vegas. In the Owners’ Championship, the 19 team has moved on to Phoenix and the Championship 4. Zilisch is +82 points going to Talladega.

The NASCAR Playoffs have ramped up. Aric Almirola isn’t afraid to be a spoiler for these other drivers. He is out there to win races, and he has done just that this season with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Justin Allgaier put together a great overall day. Jesse Love looked like he could win this race at one point. You also have to give Corey Day credit for a career-best night. P4 for the Hendrick development driver, and he is starting to look like he understands this pavement thing a little bit.

For Aric Almirola, this was as good as it gets. He won both stages, fought off one of the hottest young drivers the sport has seen in perhaps two decades, and won the race in the end.

While I understand why some may not like Almirola racing in the Xfinity Series after his retirement from Cup, I do not agree with that sentiment. Almirola is a benchmark, a litmus test for young drivers. When he was racing side-by-side against Zilisch and Love, he was helping them grow as drivers.

Aric Almirola is going to mostly race with respect, but when it gets heated, he will not shy away from contact. I think in many ways, a young driver like Zilisch drives the same way. It is respectful until it’s not, and then the gloves are off.

A clean race from start to finish. Only two cautions for cause and no wacky overtime restarts. Just good, hard racing down to the last lap. If you’re a NASCAR fan, this is what you want from the Xfinity Series. A battle of generations. Aric Almirola against Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love. It was really a great show all around.