Round two of the triple header weekend at Watkins Glen is the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission 200 at the Glen.
And it’s a full field of 38 drivers including all three of the Trackhouse Racing drivers – Ross Chastain, Shane van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch – who are running all three races this weekend.
It’s a typical New York spring day in central New York – wet and chilly – meaning the track drying equipment are making the first laps around the 2.4 mile road course.
The drivers will begin practice on the wet weather tires and the red visibility lights on the back of the cars.
After a 22 minute delay, NASCAR has deemed the track ready and the drivers take to the track for a 50 minute practice session.
NASCAR has cancelled qualifying for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the field will be set by the metric; putting Rajah Caruth on the pole. No drivers will go home.
Practice has been extended another 45 minutes.
As the track begins to dry out and conditions improve, lap times have dropped several seconds from 88 seconds per lap down to the mid and low seventies per lap. Drivers are beginning to make the change from wet weather tires to racing slicks.
NASCAR has told the teams that they may turn off their red visibility rear lights if they wish.
Sheldon Creed has some damage to his car – the rear panel is torn after getting loose and into the fence. The crew believes they can repair the car and not move to the backup car.
Brent Crews tops the leaderboard with a single lap time of 72.193 seconds around the 2.4 mile course.
The starting lineup for the Mission 200 at the Glen:
Rajah Caruth
Justin Allgaier
Sheldon Creed
Brent Crews
Sam Mayer
Parker Retzlaff
Brandon Jones
Jesse Love
Austin Hill
Sammy Smith
Jeremy Clements
Shane van Gisbergen
Ryan Sieg
William Sawalich
Anthony Alfredo
Dean Thompson
Connor Zilisch
Brennan Poole
Patrick Staropoli
Lavar Scott
Alex Guenette
Harrison Burton
Jeb Burton
Blaine Perkins
Taylor Gray
Josh Bilicki
Corey Day
Ryan Ellis
Ross Chastain
Alex Labbe
Derek White
Glen Reen
Kyle Sieg
Carson Kvapil
Austin Green
Will Rodgers
Matt Wilson
Preston Pardus
Stages one and two of the race are 20 laps each with stage three lasting 42 laps for a total of 82 laps around the 2.4 mile course.
Sheldon Creed, Dean Thompson, and Matt Wilson will all have to start the race from the back of the field after crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars. Thompson had a transmission change and Sheldon Creed’s crew had to have his car repaired after a crash during practice. Wilson’s adjustments were not specified.
After the field was set by the NASCAR metric, Rajah Caruth sits on the pole and brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier alongside. In turn one, Sam Mayer comes up on the outside to take the lead.
At 60 degrees when the green flag dropped, it is the coldest O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Watkins Glen.
Sam Mayer has the lead with Justin Allgaier taking second; Brent Crews, Rajah Caruth, and Brandon Jones round out the top five.
Lap four, Brent Crews passes Sam Mayer for the lead; Justin Allgaier, Rajah Caruth, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
The drivers only have six sets of tires for the race and tire wear is an issue this week.
Jeb Burton is stopped on the track, reporting a flat tire.
Lap five, Connor Zilisch passes Jesse Love for fourth.
Patrick Staropoli takes his 48 car to the garage with a mechanical issue.
Lap seven, Bent Crews has pulled out to a two second lead on Sam Mayer; Justin Allgaier, Connor Zilisch, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Matt Wilson spins out but the track stays green.
Lap nine, Brent Crews has increased his lead to three seconds on Sam Mayer.
Connor Zilisch passes Justin Allgaier for third.
Lap 10, the top five are Brent Crews, Sam Mayer, Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love. Shane van Gisbergen has moved up to sixth place after starting the race in 12th place.
Lap eleven, Shane van Gisbergen passes Jesse Love for fifth.
Brandon Jones and Rajah Caruth battle for position.
This week, Shane van Gisbergen is driving the JR Motorsports number nine car.
La 13, Brent Crews continues to increase his lead and is now over five seconds out in front of Sam Mayer.
Connor Zilisch has passed Sam Mayer for second.
Patrick Staropoli is out of the race.
Lap 15, While still over five seconds out in front of the field, Connor Zilisch is slowly closing the gap on leader Brent Crews.
Lap 16 Shane van Gisbergen passes Justin Allgaier for fourth.
Lap 17, Brent Crews’ lead is now less than five seconds.
William Sawalich reports that his engine blew and takes his car to the garage.
Dean Thompson and Jeremy Clements have made unscheduled stops on pit road.
Connor Zilisch is the first driver to come down pit road as drivers flip the stage and pit before the end of the stage.
Brent Crews wins stage one.
The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Brent Crews
Sam Mayer
Justin Allgaier
Jesse Love
Brandon Jones
Austin Hill
Rajah Caruth
Parker Retzlaff
Ross Chastain
Ryan Sieg
At 18, Brent Crews is the youngest driver to win a stage in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Drivers come down pit road for service. Only six drivers flipped the stage. Brent Crews wins the race off of pit road.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two with Shane van Gisbergen alongside on lap 25. Zilisch noses out for the lead going into turn one.
The top five are Connor Zilsich, Shane van Gisbergen, Sammy Smith. Jesse Love, and Brent Crews.
The caution flag comes out when Jeremy Clements gets wedged into the tire barrier. Lavar Scott spun out and Clements got into the tire barrier trying to avoid Scott.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag restart with Shane van Gisbergen alongside on lap 29. Zilisch noses out for the lead but Gisbergen takes the lead going into turn one.
The top five are Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, Sammy Smith, Jesse Love, and Brent Crews.
Lap 30 Connor Zilisch retakes the lead. Brent Crews passes Jesse Love for fourth.
Justin Allgaier passes Taylor Gray for sixth.
Brent Crews passes Sammy Smith for third.
Lap 31, Connor Zilisch has a lead of over half a second on Shane van Gisbergen; Brent Crews, Sammy Smith, and Jesse Love round out the top five.
Third place driver Brent Crews is running laps faster than leaders Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen.
The third caution flag of the race comes out on lap 34 when Lavar Scott spins out and gets into the fence. The rear bumper panel of the car is resting against the fence.
Connor Zilisch brings the field down for the green flag restart with Shane van Gisbergen alongside with just four laps remaining in stage two. Gisbergen edges out for the lead but Zilisch takes the lead going into turn one.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Brent Crews, Shane van Gisbergen, Justin Allgaier, and Jesse Love.
Brent Crews is on Connor Zilisch’s bumper looking to retake the lead. The two drivers are good friends off the track.
Connor Zilisch wins stage two.
The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Connor Zilisch
Brent Crews
Shane van Gisbergen
Justin Allgaier
Jesse Love
Taylor Gray
Austin Hill
Sam Mayer
Sammy Smith
Brandon Jones
Drivers come down pit road for service with Connor Zilisch winning the race off of pit road. Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen make contact on pit road, causing damage to Gisbergen’s car.
The drivers cannot make it to the end of the race without making another pit stop. Twelve drivers stayed out on the track.
After staying out, Brent Crews brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with Jesse Love alongside on lap 45. Crews jumps out in front for the lead.
The top five are Brent Crews, Jesse Love, Austin Hill, Corey Day, and Brandon Jones.
Austin Hill passes Jesse Love for second.
Lap 46, Connor Zilisch has worked his way to 10th place.
The caution flag comes out on lap 47 for Sheldon Creed who gets into the grass and goes airborne. He rear bumper panel on Creed’s car comes off. Creed gets back on the course but leaves a great deal of debris behind. Creed remains on the lead lap.
Some of the drivers come down pit road for service with 33 laps remaining in the race.
Brent Crews brings the field down for the green flag restart with Corey Day alongside on lap 51. Crews jumps out in front to hold on to the lead with Brandon Jones in second; Harrison Burton, Connor Zilisch, and Corey Day round out the top five.
Drivers get three wide in a battle for position, sending Sam Mayer through the tire barriers.
Lap 54, Connor Zilisch passes Harrison Burton for third and heads for second place driver Brandon Jones.
Lap 55, Connor Zilisch passes Brandon Jones for second. He is nearly four and a half seconds behind leader Brent Crews.
Despite damage from his pit road encounter, Shane van Gisbergen has move up to fifth place.
Lap 56, leader Brent Crews makes his pit stop; giving the lead over to Connor Zilisch.
Shane van Gisbergen is now in third place.
The top five are Connor Zilisch, Brandon Jones, Shane van Gisbergen, Rajah Caruth, and Justin Allgaier.
Brent Crews had a 21 second pit stop. There was fire coming from the exhaust.
Lap 58, Connor Zilisch makes his pit stop.
Shane van Gisbergen is the new leader.
Lap 59, the top five are Shane van Gisbergen, Rajah Caruth, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer, and Jesse Love.
Lap 60, green flag pit stops continue to cycle through.
Ross Chastain get into the tire barrier but keeps moving and the track stays green.
With 20 laps remaining in the race, Shane van Gisbergen has a lead of over five seconds on Rajah Caruth.
Lap 62, Shane van Gisbergen gives up the lead to make his green flag pit stop. Rajah Caruth is the new leader.
Kyle Sieg was charged with speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Ryan Sieg was charged with speeding on pit road and will have to serve a passthrough penalty.
Rajah Caruth makes his pit stop and gives the lead over to Jesse Love.
Lap 67, Jesse Love has a lead of over two seconds on teammate Austin Hill; Taylor Gray, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch round out the top five.
Just 14 laps remain in the race with Jesse Love leading the race. Connor Zilisch is back in fifth place and slowing closing the gap on the leader.
Connor Zilisch passes Ross Chastain for fourth less than 10 seconds back of leader Jesse Love.
With 12 laps to go, Connor Zilisch passes Taylor Gray for third, eight seconds behind the leader.
Ten to go, leader Jesse Love and second place driver Austin Hill are both very close on fuel. Connor Zilisch has closed the gap to just over five seconds on the leader.
With just eight laps remaining in the race, Connor Zilisch has closed the gap on leader Jesse Love to under five seconds.
Eight laps to go, Connor Zilisch continues to close the gap and is now under four seconds behind.
Seven to go, Connor Zilisch passes Austin Hill for second;- under three seconds behind leader Jesse Love.
Six laps to go, Connor Zilisch is just two and a half seconds back but caught some grass coming out of the bus stop. The splitter is broken and under the car.
Five laps remain in the race; the top five are Jesse Love, Connor Zilisch, Austin Hill, Taylor Gray, and Ross Chastain.
Four to go, Connor Zilisch has closed the gap to under two seconds.
Three to go, the gap between leader Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch is now 1.3 seconds.
Jesse Love takes the white flag with a lead of less than one second.
In a turn seven battle Connor Zilisch edges out Jesse Love for the win…his third in a row!
This makes eleven wins in a row for JR Motorsports on road courses.
Connor Zilisch destroys his tires making a burnout and needs help getting to victory lane.
The unofficial results of the Mission 200 at the Glen:
Connor Zilisch
Jesse Love
Taylor Gray
Ross Chastain
Brandon Jones
Brent Crews
Parker Retzlaff
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Green
Justin Allgaier
Austin Hill
Rajah Caruth
Sam Mayer
Carson Kvapil
Corey Day
Sammy Smith
Harrison Burton
Brennan Poole
Alex Labbe
Will Rodgers
Preston Pardus
Josh Bilicki
Ryan Sieg
Anthony Alfredo
Jeb Burton
Blaine Perkins
Lavar Scott
Alex Guenette
Sheldon Creed
Glen Reen
Kyle Sieg
Derek White
Jeremy Clements
Ryan Ellis
Dean Thompson
William Sawalich
Matt Wilson
Patrick Staropoli