Connor Zilisch as soon as once more drove his No. 7 Silver Hare Racing Chevrolet Camaro from final to first, rebounding from a technical infraction to win within the Trans Am Sequence introduced by Pirelli’s Huge Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Sequence race on the streets of Nashville. For the second time this season, the younger gun began final on a road course and handed each single automobile on the observe to in the end stand on the highest step of the rostrum.

Whereas Zilisch skilled the very best consequence within the Huge Machine Music Metropolis Grand Prix, factors leaders Brent Crews and Thomas Merrill confronted disappointment when an early crash took each out of competition, opening the door for Zilisch and Rafa Matos to make positive factors within the championship battle.

Following a record-breaking lap in Saturday morning’s qualifying session, Crews led the sector to inexperienced in his No. 70 Franklin Street/Mobil 1/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang, with Nathan Herne beside him on the entrance row in his No. 29 CUBE 3/Berryman Ford Mustang and Merrill behind him within the No. 26 Bennett/HP Tuners/Mike Cope Race Vehicles Ford Mustang. Each Crews and Merrill bought off to an excellent begin, with Merrill instantly passing Herne after the wave of the inexperienced flag. The championship contenders dominated the primary two positions, with Crews main the primary 10 laps, and Merrill taking on the purpose place on lap 11.

Sadly, catastrophe struck for the 2 leaders on lap 17 when a competitor in the back of the pack spun and got here to a cease simply previous a blind nook. That driver was hit by one other competitor behind him, and the 2 stopped automobiles blocked a majority of the observe. Merrill and Crews turned the nook at full velocity with out warning and made heavy contact with the stationary autos and one another, with each sustaining main injury to their race automobiles.

Merrill’s Mike Cope Race Vehicles crew managed to maintain him on the racetrack and only one lap down, and he in the end completed twenty first. Crews was off the racing floor for 10 laps, relegating him to a Twenty seventh-place end.

Herne was lucky sufficient to overlook the melee and took the inexperienced flag because the chief when racing resumed on lap 23, adopted by Matos within the No. 88 3-Dimensional Companies Group Ford Mustang. In the meantime, Zilisch had been impressively choosing his means via the sector behind them, and was scored fifth on the restart. The 17-year-old broke into the third place in solely three laps, and after laborious battles with Matos and Herne, he took over the lead on lap 31.

As soon as Zilisch was on the entrance of the pack, he checked out, main the ultimate seven laps and crossing the end line first, adopted by Herne and Matos. Behind them, Adam Andretti within the No. 6 Franklin Street Attire Chevrolet Camaro and Adrian Wlostowski within the No. 3 Hawk Efficiency/AMT Motorsport Ford Mustang passionately contended for fourth place. After swapping positions repeatedly, Wlostowski was capable of make the cross stick on the ultimate lap, coming dwelling fourth with Andretti behind him.

“That was wild, to say the least,” stated Zilisch from the rostrum. “I can’t say sufficient about my crew. They imagine in me, they belief me, they usually work so laborious for me. I couldn’t be extra grateful for Silver Hare Racing; they do such job. Maurice and Laura Hull gave me the chance of a lifetime to return out right here and race automobiles and fulfill my dream.

“This is likely one of the occasions I’ve all the time wished to win. To come back out right here and get that win is tremendous particular to me, and I’m certain it’s particular to my crew as nicely. They make investments rather a lot, being away from their households. It feels so good to be up right here and get this win for my crew. Additionally, every fan right here is superior. We’re nothing with out the followers. I’m proud to placed on a present for you guys and I hope your hearts had been beating as quick as mine.”

Jordan Bupp within the No. 27 Nacarato Truck Heart/Averitt Specific/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro, who completed sixth and earned the COOLSHIRT Cool Transfer of the Race, was making his first Trans Am begin in two years. Bupp has been preventing most cancers for the final 9 months and was just lately declared most cancers free. His final time on the observe was on the 2021 Huge Machine Music Metropolis Grand Prix, the place he completed tenth.

“I’m so blissful to be right here and blissful to be wholesome, thank God,” stated Bupp after the race. “It simply seems like dwelling being again with all my pals right here. I miss my spouse and children again at dwelling, however they’ll be excited to see this on TV. I bought a top-six out of this race this 12 months, so we preserve making progress. We’ll come right here subsequent 12 months and attempt to do prime three. There isn’t a lot I can complain about on a day like this.”

The re-broadcast of Saturday’s race will air on MAVTV on Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Huge Machine Vodka SPIKED Coolers TA2 Sequence subsequent heads to Watkins Glen Worldwide on September 7-10.

RESULTS