Two drivers who aren’t always in the thick of it in the Cup Series delivered some of Saturday’s biggest performances, out qualifying several of NASCAR’s biggest names.
Chase Briscoe won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, but the two drivers starting directly behind him might be the bigger story.
Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch turned heads during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying on Oct. 24, securing second and third on the starting grid for Sunday’s race. Neither is a full-time Cup Series driver, yet both managed to outrun some of the sport’s most established names.
Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney were among the drivers who couldn’t match their qualifying performances.
For Hill and Zilisch, it was an impressive afternoon at one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable tracks, and a reminder that a driver’s Cup Series experience doesn’t always determine where they’ll line up on race day.
Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch Deliver Talladega Qualifying Surprises
Hill came within striking distance of the pole, recording a lap of 185.949 mph in the No. 33 Chevrolet. That was just 0.032 seconds slower than Briscoe’s pole-winning effort of 186.065 mph.
Zilisch wasn’t far behind.
Driving the No. 88 Chevrolet, the young NASCAR prospect posted a speed of 185.877 mph, good enough for third on the starting grid.
The results were particularly notable considering the competition.
Hamlin qualified ninth, Larson rounded out the top 10, and Chase Elliott could manage only 18th. Blaney, meanwhile, will start 27th after a disappointing session in his No. 12 Ford.
Hill and Zilisch weren’t simply competitive against the Cup Series regulars. They beat the overwhelming majority of them.
Their performances also put two Chevrolets directly behind Briscoe’s Toyota, with Shane van Gisbergen qualifying fourth and Chris Buescher completing the top five.
Why Saturday’s Results Matter Heading Into Sunday’s Talladega Race
Of course, qualifying well at Talladega is only part of the equation.
The 2.66-mile superspeedway is famous for its tight drafting packs, constant position changes and multi-car accidents that can turn a promising afternoon into a disastrous one in seconds.
A front-row starting position offers no guarantee of a strong finish, just as qualifying outside the top 20 doesn’t eliminate a driver’s chances of winning.
That’s what makes Hill and Zilisch’s performances intriguing.
Hill has built a reputation as a formidable superspeedway racer, particularly in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where his drafting-track success has been a defining part of his career.
Zilisch, meanwhile, represents NASCAR’s next generation. His rapid rise through the national series has made him one of the sport’s most closely watched young talents.
Saturday gave both drivers another opportunity to demonstrate their speed against Cup Series competition.
And although Briscoe will officially lead the field to green, Hill and Zilisch have already accomplished something noteworthy before Sunday’s race even begins.
They’ve earned starting positions ahead of multiple Cup Series champions and established winners.
Now comes the considerably tougher assignment: staying ahead of them when it counts.
Full NASCAR Cup Series Talladega Qualifying Results
Pos. Driver Car No.
1 Chase Briscoe 19
2 Austin Hill 33
3 Connor Zilisch 88
4 Shane van Gisbergen 97
5 Chris Buescher 17
6 Christopher Bell 20
7 Alex Bowman 48
8 Ty Gibbs 54
9 Denny Hamlin 11
10 Kyle Larson 5
11 Cody Ware 51
12 Austin Dillon 3
13 Daniel Suárez 7
14 Riley Herbst 35
15 Ross Chastain 1
16 Joey Logano 22
17 William Byron 24
18 Chase Elliott 9
19 Ryan Preece 60
20 Cole Custer 41
21 Josh Berry 21
22 Brad Keselowski 6
23 Michael McDowell 71
24 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47
25 Bubba Wallace 23
26 Carson Hocevar 77
27 Ryan Blaney 12
28 Austin Cindric 2
29 Erik Jones 43
30 Ty Dillon 10
31 Zane Smith 38
32 John Hunter Nemechek 42
33 Tyler Reddick 45
34 Casey Mears 62
35 Todd Gilliland 34
36 Daniel Dye 78
37 AJ Allmendinger 16
38 Joey Gase 44
39 Noah Gragson 4
40 Gray Gaulding 66