The 2025 Focused Health 250 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the 5th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, a 2.400 miles (3.862 km) road course. The race took the scheduled 65 laps to complete. Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, navigated through late-race adversity, and continued his road course dominance by winning the pole and leading a race-high 26 laps, earning his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series win, and his first of the season.[9] To fill out the podium, William Byron, driving for Hendrick Motorsports, and Sam Mayer, driving for Haas Factory Team, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Report
Background
Circuit of the Americas (COTA) is a grade 1 FIA-specification motorsports facility located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Austin, Texas. It features a 3.426-mile (5.514 km) road racing circuit. The facility is home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix, and the Motorcycle Grand Prix of the Americas, a round of the FIM Road Racing World Championship. It previously hosted the Supercars Championship, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, and IndyCar Series.
On November 20, 2024, it was announced that the race would move to the 2.400 mi (3.862 km) layout.[10]
Entry list
- (R) denotes rookie driver.
- (i) denotes driver who is ineligible for series driver points.
Practice
The first and only practice session was held on Friday, February 28, at 4:00 PM CST, and lasted for 50 minutes.[11] Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, would set the fastest time in the session, with a lap of 1:37.839, and a speed of 88.308 mph (142.118 km/h).
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Time | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88 | Connor Zilisch (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 1:37.839 | 88.308 |
| 2 | 2 | Jesse Love | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:38.392 | 87.812 |
| 3 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 1:38.634 | 87.597 |
| Full practice results | ||||||
Qualifying
Qualifying was held on Friday, February 28, at 5:00 PM CST.[12] Since Circuit of the Americas is a road course, the qualifying procedure used is a two group, one round system. Drivers will be separated into two groups, Group A and B. Both groups will be 20 minutes long, and each driver will have multiple laps to set a time. Whoever sets the fastest time between both groups will win the pole.[13]
Under a 2021 rule change, the timing line in road course qualifying is "not" the start-finish line. Instead, the timing line for qualifying will be set at the exit of Istanbul 8. Connor Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports, would score the pole for the race, with a lap of 1:37.262, and a speed of 88.832 mph (142.961 km/h).[14]
Three drivers failed to qualify: Brad Perez, Parker Retzlaff, and Thomas Annunziata.
Qualifying results
Race results
Stage 1 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 2 | 9 | Ross Chastain (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 0 |
| 3 | 24 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 0 |
| 4 | 41 | Sam Mayer | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 7 |
| 5 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 6 |
| 6 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 16 | Christian Eckes (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 2 |
| 10 | 07 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 1 |
Stage 2 Laps: 20
| Pos. | # | Driver | Team | Make | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Harrison Burton | AM Racing | Ford | 10 |
| 2 | 10 | Daniel Dye (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 9 |
| 3 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 8 |
| 4 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 7 |
| 5 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 6 |
| 6 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 5 |
| 7 | 07 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 4 |
| 8 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 3 |
| 9 | 53 | Sage Karam | Joey Gase Motorsports | Toyota | 2 |
| 10 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 1 |
Stage 3 Laps: 25
| Fin[15] | St | # | Driver | Team | Make | Laps | Led | Status | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 88 | Connor Zilisch (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 26 | Running | 40 |
| 2 | 3 | 17 | William Byron (i) | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 3 | Running | 0 |
| 3 | 8 | 41 | Sam Mayer | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 65 | 0 | Running | 41 |
| 4 | 12 | 21 | Austin Hill | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 6 | Running | 38 |
| 5 | 10 | 16 | Christian Eckes (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 36 |
| 6 | 11 | 2 | Jesse Love | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 6 | Running | 31 |
| 7 | 7 | 54 | Taylor Gray (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 65 | 3 | Running | 30 |
| 8 | 2 | 9 | Ross Chastain (i) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 2 | Running | 0 |
| 9 | 23 | 18 | William Sawalich (R) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 65 | 0 | Running | 28 |
| 10 | 18 | 31 | Blaine Perkins | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 27 |
| 11 | 16 | 8 | Sammy Smith | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 37 |
| 12 | 14 | 00 | Sheldon Creed | Haas Factory Team | Ford | 65 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 13 | 9 | 19 | Riley Herbst (i) | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 65 | 7 | Running | 0 |
| 14 | 27 | 07 | Alex Labbé | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 28 |
| 15 | 21 | 11 | Josh Williams | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 25 |
| 16 | 34 | 71 | Ryan Ellis | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 21 |
| 17 | 15 | 10 | Daniel Dye (R) | Kaulig Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 29 |
| 18 | 30 | 26 | Dean Thompson (R) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 65 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 19 | 38 | 39 | Ryan Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 65 | 0 | Running | 24 |
| 20 | 32 | 44 | Brennan Poole | Alpha Prime Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 22 |
| 21 | 17 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo | Young's Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 18 |
| 22 | 26 | 91 | Josh Bilicki | DGM Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 15 |
| 23 | 5 | 1 | Carson Kvapil (R) | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 7 | Running | 15 |
| 24 | 19 | 48 | Nick Sanchez (R) | Big Machine Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 13 |
| 25 | 29 | 27 | Jeb Burton | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 19 |
| 26 | 20 | 32 | Austin Green | Jordan Anderson Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 27 | 36 | 28 | Kyle Sieg | RSS Racing | Ford | 65 | 0 | Running | 11 |
| 28 | 35 | 51 | Jeremy Clements | Jeremy Clements Racing | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 9 |
| 29 | 4 | 7 | Justin Allgaier | JR Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 14 |
| 30 | 13 | 20 | Brandon Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 65 | 0 | Running | 7 |
| 31 | 6 | 24 | Corey Heim (i) | Sam Hunt Racing | Toyota | 65 | 0 | Running | 0 |
| 32 | 22 | 99 | Matt DiBenedetto | Viking Motorsports | Chevrolet | 65 | 0 | Running | 5 |
| 33 | 33 | 5 | Kris Wright | Our Motorsports | Chevrolet | 64 | 0 | Running | 4 |
| 34 | 28 | 53 | Sage Karam | Joey Gase Motorsports | Toyota | 58 | 0 | Transmission | 5 |
| 35 | 31 | 25 | Harrison Burton | AM Racing | Ford | 55 | 5 | Axle | 12 |
| 36 | 25 | 50 | Preston Pardus | Pardus Racing | Chevrolet | 26 | 0 | Rear End | 1 |
| 37 | 37 | 35 | Baltazar Leguizamón | Joey Gase Motorsports | Chevrolet | 17 | 0 | Suspension | 1 |
| 38 | 24 | 14 | Carson Hocevar (i) | SS-Green Light Racing | Chevrolet | 3 | 0 | Accident | 0 |
| Official race results | |||||||||
Standings after the race
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References
- ^ "2025 schedule". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ "Circuit of the Americas". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 28, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Entry list" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Practice Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Qualifying Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Starting lineup" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. February 28, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ "Race Results" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 1, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Points standings" (PDF). Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 1, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Connor Zilisch overcomes adversity to score Xfinity win at COTA". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. March 1, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
- ^ "Circuit of the Americas to change course layout for Cup and Xfinity races". Jayski.com. November 20, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ "2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Circuit of The Americas Race Page". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ "2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Atlanta Motor Speedway Spring Race Page". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
- ^ "2025 NASCAR Qualifying Procedures". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ^ Srigley, Joseph (February 28, 2025). "Connor Zilisch Drives to Second Career Xfinity Pole at COTA". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Focused Health 250 - Racing Reference". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved March 2, 2025.