Pressure was high at Portland International Raceway as Connor Zilisch went for his eighth win of the 2025 Xfinity Series campaign. Drivers jostled for position in the late stages, and tempers flared after Zilisch made a move that had everyone in the NASCAR community talking.
Did he break the rules, or just outsmart the field? Fans want answers, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t hold back on his latest podcast. What really went down in Portland, and is NASCAR ready to shake up the West Coast?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Weighs In on Connor Zilisch’s Portland Controversy
Right in the middle of the Pacific Office Automation 147 last Saturday, Zilisch led 70 of 78 laps from pole, but his bold move through Turn 1’s A-frame chicane on the final overtime restart became the story of the day.
Did @ConnorZilisch take the A-Frame route on purpose to avoid turn one calamity?!?!? pic.twitter.com/k8ZVavc57h
— Xfinity Racing (@XfinityRacing) August 31, 2025
On the key overtime restart, Zilisch and several other drivers missed the corner and cut through the penalty zone. Most fans know that Portland’s penalty system forces drivers through an A-frame chicane, which is supposed to be about two seconds slower than the normal racing line.
Instead of risking it all in the packed chicane, Zilisch opted for the loophole — and the debate started instantly online. Some fans praised him for being clever, while others felt he wasn’t playing fair.
Jumping into the conversation on the latest Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. addressed the incident and shared his honest take. He didn’t blame Zilisch for taking the route, saying, “Connor’s move was legal.” Earnhardt also took a shot at Portland’s penalty system and questioned the whole track design.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I can’t argue that maybe how they did it at Portland wasn’t as much of a deterrent. Um, and so, I would just say, I’m glad we’re not going back,” Earnhardt said.
“It has nothing to do with location, or really anything else but the fact that Turn 1-2 combination is just not good,” he explained.
“I just feel like that type of a turn, being that turn, that kink chicane, whatever you want to call it, that being the very first turn you are going to enter after a restart, for any racetrack, is a bad idea. It’s just not a good design. Sorry!” Earnhardt continued.
Portland was on the Xfinity Series circuit for the past four years, but it won’t appear on the 2026 schedule. Earnhardt made it clear that it’s not just the turns; the entire venue is behind the times and needs an overhaul.
With Portland off the schedule, NASCAR’s West Coast future looks a lot different. The track needs major renovation, so it’s not likely we’ll see Portland hosting a big race any time soon. That’s tough news for Pacific Northwest fans, but there’s a silver lining: NASCAR wants to beef up its West Coast presence.
San Diego gets a Cup Series race in 2026, and reports say Seattle could land a NASCAR race soon, too. Fans in the region still have plenty to look forward to as things shift and new cities take center stage in upcoming schedules.
