League: NASCAR Sport: Motorsports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Austin Hill, Connor Zilisch shine in NASCAR Talladega qualifying

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 24, 2026, 8:20 PM

Last updated Oct 24, 2026

Austin Hill, Connor Zilisch shine in NASCAR Talladega qualifying

Summary

Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch produced standout performances during NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Talladega on October 24. They secured the second and third positions on the starting grid, respectively, outperforming several established drivers including Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott. Chase Briscoe won the pole position with a top lap of 186.065 mph. Hill recorded a speed of 185.949 mph, while Zilisch followed closely at 185.877 mph. Their qualifying efforts highlight the unpredictability of Talladega, where strong qualifying does not guarantee success in the race.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Chase Briscoe won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway.
•Hill and Zilisch are not full-time Cup Series drivers.
•Hill and Zilisch qualified ahead of top drivers like Larson and Blaney.
•The race is known for tight drafting packs and potential accidents.
•Hill's success at superspeedways continues, while Zilisch is a rising talent.

Latest Updates

8:20 PMYahoo Sports — Austin Hill, Connor Zilisch Steal the Spotlight in NASCAR Talladega Qualifying

What they're saying

"
Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch delivered two of the biggest surprises in NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Talladega, outperforming several of the sport’s biggest stars
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

NASCAR Motorsports