Connor Zilisch Earns Pole for Focused Health 250 NASCAR Road Course Debut

The young driver will lead the field at Circuit of the Americas as the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series kicks off its road course schedule.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:07pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a NASCAR race at Circuit of the Americas, with cars and the track broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and form to capture the dynamic energy and technical complexity of road course racing.A cubist interpretation of the high-speed action and technical demands of NASCAR's first road course race of the season at Circuit of the Americas.Austin Today

Connor Zilisch has earned the pole position for the Focused Health 250 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The race on Saturday marks the series' first road course event of the 2026 season, setting the stage for an exciting showdown as drivers look to gain early momentum in the championship chase.

Why it matters

The Focused Health 250 will be the first NASCAR road course race of the year, providing a new challenge for drivers and teams as they navigate the winding turns and elevation changes of Circuit of the Americas. With 33 races on the schedule, strong performances on road courses could be crucial in determining who contends for the championship later in the season.

The details

The Focused Health 250 is scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with the race broadcast on CW. Earlier in the day, the Craftsman Truck Series will race at St. Petersburg, Florida, before the Cup Series takes the track at COTA on Sunday afternoon. Zilisch, a rising young driver, will lead the field to the green flag as he looks to capitalize on his pole position and secure a victory in the series' road course debut.

  • The Focused Health 250 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • The Craftsman Truck Series race at St. Petersburg will take place earlier on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
  • The Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas is scheduled for Sunday, April 11, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

The players

Connor Zilisch

A young up-and-coming driver who has earned the pole position for the Focused Health 250 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

Austin Hill

The current points leader in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series after winning the season-opening race at Daytona.

Rajah Caruth

A driver who has surged into second place in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series standings thanks to two strong performances and valuable stage points.

Sheldon Creed

The driver who sits in third place in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series standings after winning last week's race.

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What’s next

The Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday will be the first road course race of the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, setting the stage for an exciting showdown as drivers look to gain early momentum in the championship chase.

The takeaway

The Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas marks a significant shift in the 2026 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season, as drivers and teams navigate the challenges of road course racing for the first time. With 33 races on the schedule, strong performances on these winding tracks could be crucial in determining who contends for the championship later in the year.