Coming into the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Connor Zilisch had a lot of factors in his favor. An astonishing 10-race win season, nine Pole Awards, a 99.5 percent laps completion ratio and driving championship Chevrolets for Hall of Fame owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his JR Motorsports team.
All he needed to do Saturday night was finish out the incredible season with a championship. Looking at it on paper, it made sense for Zilisch as the favorite and achieve that first one.
That wasn’t the case as his best friend Jesse Love passed him for the lead with 24 laps to take the race win and NXS Championship. Zilisch was also passed by Aric Almirola before the checkered flag to finish third.
Stage 3 Went Wrong Way
It was so much that anything went wrong during the race as it was Love’s No. 2 Chevrolet just became faster towards the end. Zilisch led five times for 27 laps showing they did have a fast car.
Upon climbing from the car on pit road, a visibly upset Zilisch sat on the ground leaning up against his car taking it all in on what just happened. After a few moments, he looked back on where the pace of the race changed for him.
“I came into the weekend and told my entire team if we give 100 percent, and we can walk out of this place knowing we did that, I’d be proud of this,” Zilisch said. “We fought all day long and threw everything we had at it.
“Unfortunately, we just didn’t quite have what we needed. But, it doesn’t take away from anything we did this season.
“You work all year long, you bust your ass for 33 weeks and I feel like we did the best job we could all year.”
Still Holding Head High
As dejected as the Regular Season Champion was, he didn’t overlook the fact the team had a banner year.
“I’m still so proud of my team, what we’ve accomplished this year,” he said to the media after the race. “We have nothing to hang our heads about. We were the best car for two-thirds of the year.
“We dominated until these last three races. Yeah, it cost us a championship, we’ll keep our heads high. We are walking home with more than three times as many trophies as anybody else.
“We won the most races, had the most top 10s, top fives and poles. There’s no reason we should be upset because of this outcome.”
Future Looks Bright
Early this year, it was announced the 19-year-0ld driver was moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2026, he will join Trackhouse Racing on a full-time basis teaming up with Ross Chastain and Shane Van Gisbergen.
He will remain part of the JRM fold racing for them as part of multi-driver rotation.
“I’m so glad I’m back next year for some races,” he said. “This year’s been a dream. My teammate, my team, every crew member, everybody back at the shop, people working upstairs in the offices, everybody has treated me like family
“Yeah, I’ll remember this year forever. I just wish I could have gone out on top and left them with a championship.
“Yeah, I guess not.”
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