Connor Zilisch controlled the championship race at Phoenix Raceway until the final laps when Jesse Love stole both the lead and the title. The season finale ended with Zilisch third at the checkered flag and second in the standings, a crushing defeat for a team that dominated the majority of the 2025 Xfinity Series season.
Weeks later, JR Motorsports have now found redemption. Kelley Earnhardt posted a simple message on social media thanking the Grand National Bash and Tommy Joe Martins after her organization received the Premier Organization of the Year award. The honor carried weight precisely because it came from peers rather than NASCAR‘s official ceremonies.
Tommy Joe Martins created what NASCAR wouldn’t
The Grand National Bash represents something NASCAR has ignored for decades. Martins, who drives the No. 44 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet and spent his career competing against underfunded teams, created an award ceremony specifically for Xfinity and Truck Series competitors. The inaugural event on Sunday night recognized organizations that NASCAR’s official banquets overlook.
Martins said all of us are racing for something, and no matter the size of the organization, racing at this level is a big deal. It does not exist without all of us. The voting panel included media members, drivers, agents, and team representatives, with Racing Insights providing performance data for selections.
JR Motorsports beat TRICON Garage for the honor despite TRICON winning the 2025 Truck Series championship with Corey Heim. JRM’s advantage came from depth. Connor Zilisch won 10 races in the regular season and claimed the regular season title.
Justin Allgaier added three victories, and Sammy Smith chipped in with another win. Three of the four championship contenders came from Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team, demonstrating organizational excellence rather than single-driver dominance.
Justin Allgaier’s Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet became Lionel Racing’s best-selling die-cast of 2025, marking JRM’s first appearance atop the annual sales list. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Budweiser Speedway Classic Late Model Chevrolet claimed second place.
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