The Tony Stewart influence on Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love relationship is unmistakable, as Zilisch models himself after the NASCAR Hall of Famer, yet brings his own sense of sportsmanship to his friendship and rivalry with Love. While Zilisch takes inspiration from Stewart’s intensity, he and Love manage to sustain a respectful friendship even as they fiercely compete against each other in major NASCAR events.
Shaping a Different Racing Persona: Zilisch’s Approach Compared to Stewart
Connor Zilisch admires Tony Stewart, who made headlines throughout his career for his combative attitude on and off the track. Unlike Stewart, who became known for speaking his mind and settling disputes passionately, Zilisch prefers a more reserved and considerate style. Although Stewart was famous for saying he would do whatever it takes to win—even joking that he’d “wreck his mother”—Zilisch adopts a measured approach to racing his peers.
When asked how far he would go to win against his close friend and rival, Jesse Love, Zilisch recounted how personal connections add a layer of complexity to their competitive dynamic.
You know the saying, ‘I’d wreck my mom for a win,’
—Connor Zilisch, driver. While Zilisch shares Stewart’s ambition, he balances it with awareness of his relationships, knowing the consequences of rivalry can follow drivers off the track.
He elaborated on where he draws the line between fierce competition and friendship:
But at the same time, a win is a win. If it’s for fifth place or whatever, I might be a little bit nicer than most other guys. But for the win, I’m going to race everyone like I want to win and that’s kind of just the bottom line and he would do the same and I expect the same out of him.
—Connor Zilisch, driver. This illustrates how Zilisch expects and gives hard but fair racing, particularly when a victory is at stake.
Managing Intense Rivalry and Mutual Support
The relationship between Zilisch and Love stands out because, despite being rivals during NASCAR races, their friendship thrives off-track. In a recent race at Pocono, a mistake by Love allowed Zilisch to claim victory, but there was no indication of resentment or showboating between the two. This camaraderie demonstrates how sportsmanship can prevail even among fierce competitors.
Zilisch explained the unique support system he shares with Love:
We’re really good friends off the track, we help each other,
—Connor Zilisch, driver. Their partnership sees them exchange expertise—Zilisch lends a hand on road courses, while Love offers guidance on oval tracks, allowing both to grow.
We help each other a lot but at the same time we push each other to be better too. We hold each other to a standard and when one of us isn’t doing well, we let the other one know.
—Connor Zilisch, driver. This transparent feedback helps maintain their competitive edge and personal bond, setting a high bar for performance and accountability.
The nature of their friendship means both Zilisch and Love are driven by the desire to surpass the other, resulting in healthy competition. As Zilisch put it:
It’s really cool to have someone like him that I can lean on and that also pushes me to be better,
—Connor Zilisch, driver.
We’re both pretty young and coming up and I don’t want to get beat by him and he doesn’t want to get beat by me either, so it pushes both of us to be better.
—Connor Zilisch, driver. Their rapport reflects how mutual respect and rivalry can coexist, fueling both drivers to improve with every race.
A Competitive Field Shaped by Mentorship and Determination
Their most recent clash at Pocono saw Zilisch hold off Love in a close finish, crossing the line less than half a second ahead. Adding to the significance, Dale Earnhardt Jr.—a legend in NASCAR—served as Zilisch’s crew chief for that race, further raising the stakes and visibility of their rivalry. This victory marked Zilisch’s second of the season, complimenting his win at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas earlier in the year.
In a sport where drivers like Tony Stewart have shown that aggressive tactics can bring success, Zilisch and Love demonstrate that it is possible to balance ambition with respect. Their relationship, shaped by Stewart’s influence but tempered by their friendship, stands as a model for the next generation of NASCAR and NHRA drivers.
As both continue to rise in the NASCAR ranks, their story illustrates that fierce competition and genuine friendship can coexist, helping each other reach new heights and keeping audiences engaged as they battle for victory.
