Winners: Chase Briscoe (Cup); Connor Zilisch (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Max Reaves Wins (ARCA)
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| Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics |
NASCAR Cup
Chase Briscoe Wins Pressure-Packed Cup Series Race at Pocono
Chase Briscoe has earned a NASCAR Cup Series season-best four pole positions and led laps in eight races in his first season driving the famous No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and finally – finally – on Sunday afternoon that hard work translated into his first trophy, edging his JGR teammate Denny Hamlin in The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VisitPA.com at Pocono Raceway.
It came down to the suspenseful very final laps, Briscoe having to save as much fuel as possible while maintaining the lead the last 34 laps with Pocono’s all-time winningest driver Hamlin and two-time Pocono winner, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, directly in his rearview mirror, pushing him lap after lap.
But Briscoe did it — perfectly executing throttle control to maintain the lead and not run his car out of gas — ultimately beating Hamlin across the line by .682-second to formally punch his win-and-in 2025 Playoff ticket. The 30-year-old Indiana-native led a race-best 72 of the 160 laps on the day and even had enough fuel for the well-deserved victory celebration.
“There was a lot [of pressure],” a smiling Briscoe conceded. “It was kind of weird. I wasn’t driving hard, so it’s not like I was on the ragged edge, but it was just so hard having a guy chasing you, especially the guy that’s the greatest of all time here, to be trying to save fuel and everything else.
“Just an amazing day for our race team,” he continued, “Really the first race we’ve executed all year long.”
Shredded ‘em! 🛞💨#PAGetaway400 pic.twitter.com/PAN1pfIc5P
— Pocono Raceway (@PoconoRaceway) June 23, 2025
Pole: Denny Hamlin
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Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 7:00 pm ET for the ‘Challenge Round 1 - Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart’ at EchoPark Speedway.
NASCAR Xfinity
Connor Zilisch Wins Xfinity Race Dale Jr. as Crew Chief
In a day of varying strategies and dramatic restarts among the frontrunners, JR Motorsports rookie Connor Zilisch prevailed in a late-race sprint to the checkered flag in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 at Pocono Raceway — the first oval win of this young talent’s career.
Late-race restarts determined the day and ultimately it came down to a duel between Zilisch and his best friend, last year’s Rookie of the Year, Jesse Love. Zilisch pulled his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet alongside Love’s car as they crossed the start/finish line with four laps to go and then he took the lead for good with three laps remaining – .437-seconds ahead of the field.
It was that kind of resolute day for the 18-year-old Zilisch, who had some key help in his headset from a first-time crew chief. His team owner, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr., filled in for the team’s full-time leader, Mardy Lindley, who was serving a one-race suspension.
“Just a great job putting us in position to succeed, we had a lot of things go our way, a lot of good luck, good race strategy, had a little help from [his former NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Steve] Letarte,” a grinning Earnhardt said, applauding Lindley’s preparation for the weekend.
“Hats off to everybody on this team,” he continued. “It’s been amazing all weekend long. Great race car driver. Connor Zilisch is going to be a big deal in this sport for a long time. A lot of fun for me today.”
“I’ve been dying for this one for a while now, I’ve been so close on the ovals lately,” Zilisch said. “I finished second at Charlotte, second at Nashville.
“And Dale Jr., not too bad on the box,” he said smiling, saying he appreciated Earnhardt’s advice throughout the race. “Pretty cool to have him up there. Thank you so much to the entire JR Motorsports team. … this one is definitely special. I’ve been chasing an oval win for a while now.”
The @colepearn victory selfie. pic.twitter.com/bgrKXrL4Bl
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) June 22, 2025
Pole: Chase Elliott
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Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Friday, June 27, 7:30 pm ET at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Focused Health 250’ at EchoPark Speedway.
NASCAR Trucks
Layne Riggs Seizes Pocono Victory Following Corey Heim’s Tire Trouble
Layne Riggs capped one of the best race weekends of his young career, claiming his first-ever pole position then leading the final 20 laps of Friday’s MillerTech Battery 200 to take his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the season in the opening race of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway.
Riggs’ No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford beat Tricon Garage driver Tanner Gray to the checkered flag by a healthy 3.64 seconds, delivering the young star his third career series win.
“That’s just a testament to this team, that thing was bad fast, especially that last run right there,” said Riggs, the 23-year-old son of former NASCAR Cup Series standout Scott Riggs.
“I really hate the 11 [Heim] fell out and not sure what the seven [Hocevar] was doing on the restart there, but made sure to take advantage of it.
“But, hey, I’m a happy man right now. This is not what I had circled. Last year, we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify and ran dead last all day. And today we were the best. It’s amazing.”
Spinning right into Victory Layne! pic.twitter.com/aipj4mrI0L
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) June 20, 2025
Pole: Layne Riggs
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Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, June 28, 1:00 pm ET for the ‘LIUNA 150’ at Lime Rock Park.
ARCA
Max Reaves Masters Elko Speedway for first ARCA Menards Series Victory
Max Reaves, the 15-year-old from Trinity, North Carolina, secured his first ARCA Menards Series victory Saturday night thanks to a spirited drive late in the Shore Lunch 250 presented by Dutch Boy at Minnesota’s Elko Speedway.
Reaves, who has won all three of the ARCA Menards Series East events he’s started this season, made his second ARCA Menards Series start Saturday after finishing second last week at Berlin Raceway.
“It’s crazy,” Reaves said in Victory Lane. “I won in the East (Series) three times in a row. That was crazy, but to win in the national series like this is just awesome.”
Cookin' when it counted.
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) June 22, 2025
15-year-old Max Reaves earns his first ARCA Menards Series (national) win in convincing fashion at @Elko_Speedway! pic.twitter.com/1BtNWs7wRH
Pole: Brenden Queen
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Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. ET for “The Lime Rock Park 100’ at Lime Rock Park.
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