Connor Mosack’s path in NASCAR has been anything but conventional. Once a rising star under the JR Motorsports banner, Mosack seemed destined for greatness. But in a sport where momentum is everything, his journey took unexpected detours. Limited starts, shifting opportunities, and the grind of proving himself on every lap forced Mosack to adapt, grow, and fight for every inch of track.He wasn’t just chasing wins, he was chasing his place in the sport. Now, the driver once backed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., is carving his own legacy. With a full-time ride in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, Mosack is determined to make every race count. And at Atlanta, he just made his biggest statement yet.From setbacks to speed – Connor Mosack’s journey to redemption at AtlantaConnor Mosack’s NASCAR journey hasn’t been easy. While some drivers climb the ranks with full-time rides and endless seat time, Mosack has had to fight for every opportunity. His early years saw him competing in late models with limited starts. Even when he landed a spot with JR Motorsports—the team owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.—his chances to shine were few and far between. He’s bounced between different series. From ARCA to Xfinity and now the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Mosack has to constantly prove himself. This season, however, he’s determined to change that narrative.Overall, Atlanta Motor Speedway has not shown him much love in the past. Nothing went right during his single Xfinity Series start in 2023 at the track. As it stands in a superspeedway-style conformation, luck might just be an asset as much as skill is at this facility. He has run well at ‘intermediate’ tracks similar to the ‘Mile-and-a-Half’ venues, with a career-best third place coming at Homestead-Miami, but it has yet to come together for him at Atlanta. After a frustrating season opener in Daytona, where a mechanical DNF had him finishing 32nd, he needed something big to get him going again.That’s exactly what he delivered in qualifying. A blistering lap of 173.48 mph in 31.969 seconds not only secured his first career pole in the Truck Series but was a statement-making moment, not just for him but for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR). The No. 81 Chevrolet Silverado RST Mosack drove was the same one that earned MHR the pole at Atlanta in 2024. But this time was Mosack’s execution. He was just dialed in, and had the sort of speed that separated him from many sets of best drivers on the track.Now that’s how you earn your first pole! @connormosack will start first for tomorrow’s race at @ATLMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/k5tLsiBJgT— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 21, 2025“It sounds pretty good,” Mosack said after his impressive qualifying run. “We still have work to do tomorrow but feel really good about the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation Chevrolet Silverado that we brought. Crew chief Blake Bainbridge and the MHR team really put together a great package, and I’m excited about what we can accomplish together.” His praise for Bainbridge reflects the strong camaraderie and team culture that has been pivotal for MHR’s success.With 135 laps ahead, Mosack has the opportunity to capitalize on his momentum and fight for his first Truck Series victory after making a debut all the way back in 2022. Atlanta’s unique layout will test his ability to balance drafting tactics with aggressive moves in traffic. But, if his qualifying speed is any indication, he’s more than ready for the challenge.Can Mosack convert his first pole position into a victory in the NASCAR Truck Series?As Connor Mosack steps into his race on Saturday, he’s not just aiming to defend his pole position, he’s laser-focused on converting it into his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory. Running 11 races in the Truck Series in just two years, Mosack has proven to be somewhat of a journeyman, with flashes of brilliance, netting four top-ten finishes. but the checkered flag has eluded the Charlotte, North Carolina driver to date.Mosack’s best result, a third place finish in the 2024 Baptist Health 200, proves he can compete at the top. He knows that qualifying up front is a huge advantage. If he’s ahead of the other racers, he’s going to be able to set the early pace and strategy for the race. The confidence he’s built going into this pole performance recently is, quite possibly, going to catapult him through to that elusive first win.So, can Connor Mosack convert his first pole position into a victory in the NASCAR Truck Series? The potential is definitely there. With the right strategy and support from his team, he could break through. Will this be the moment he finally takes the checkered flag for the first time? One has to wait for the answer, and the best place to do so would be in Saturday’s race.The post Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Former Driver Writes History for Himself After Making His Comeback to NASCAR appeared first on EssentiallySports.