Connor Zilisch’s NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign, marked by dominant wins and high expectations, culminated in an emotional finale at Phoenix Raceway. Facing off against his best friend and season-long rival Jesse Love on November 1, Zilisch went into the race with a remarkable 10 victories for 2025, but ultimately it was Love who captured the championship in a dramatic reversal of fortune.
Zilisch and Love’s competition had unfolded with Zilisch consistently outpacing Love, including a memorable triumph at Pocono Raceway where Zilisch passed Love late in the race for a one-two finish. This friendly rivalry added extra weight to the Phoenix finale as both drivers arrived with everything to gain.
Jesse Love Claims Championship After Passing Zilisch in Final Laps
The season’s outcome shifted dramatically in the final laps at Phoenix, as Love overtook Zilisch with 25 laps to go and secured his third Xfinity win of the year, clinching his first championship. It was a particularly notable achievement for Love, marking his first victory away from a superspeedway.
“I just feel so clean, relieved,”
Love told The CW after his win, reflecting on the challenges and hard work that led to his milestone.
“… It really hasn’t set in yet. I just tried to tune out all the emotion. It doesn’t feel real at all.”
— Jesse Love, Xfinity Series Champion
For Connor Zilisch, who led the series with 10 wins, a record 18 consecutive top-five finishes, and over 1,000 laps at the front, the loss was a harsh reality. On media day before the event, Zilisch reflected on his journey, saying,
“proved what he needed to improve for myself,”
affirming he viewed his season as a success no matter the outcome.
Despite this perspective, the moment hit hard after the race when Zilisch exited his car following a third-place finish, clearly grappling with disappointment. Images of Zilisch’s emotional response circulated quickly in the NASCAR community, illustrating the weight of coming so close to the ultimate prize.
JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. spoke about Zilisch’s feelings that night:
“I don’t know if you could tell him much that would make him feel better tonight,”
he said.
“He is pretty heartbroken. But there is definitely worse days at the racetrack for him.”
— Dale Earnhardt Jr., JRM co-owner
Zilisch Reflects on an Unforgettable Season and Emotional Night
The 19-year-old rookie’s season will be remembered as one of the most impressive in Xfinity Series history, even if the championship narrowly slipped from his grasp. Facing his best friend for the title, Zilisch acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the result, stating,
“No, it doesn’t make it feel any better,”
followed by,
“… [But] I came here to win, so it still doesn’t make it feel any better.”
— Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
Reviewing the night’s performance, Zilisch said,
“I felt like we were never the best car,”
and noted his team’s strong effort despite struggling to match the ultimate pace over each long run.
“After 20 laps, I just couldn’t hang on, just started to lose lateral grip. Yeah, I don’t really know what we fought, but I feel like every run we were the second-best car. Whether it was Justin [Allgaier] or Jesse, we just never were the best car.”
— Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
Although he narrowly missed the championship, Zilisch’s record-setting accomplishments remain clear.
“We have nothing to hang our heads about,”
he said, pointing to an unmatched tally of wins, top fives, and top tens throughout the year.
“Yeah, it cost us a championship, so … 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, poles. There’s no reason we should be upset because of this outcome.”
— Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
Future Awaits: Zilisch to Pursue Cup Series Ambitions
Looking ahead, Connor Zilisch will move up to a full-time role in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing in 2026. Despite the pain of falling short this season, Zilisch expressed optimism for what’s next, declaring,
“I don’t have a NASCAR championship, so that’s something I definitely got to get in the future,”
and
“Hopefully, that will be a Cup championship one day. I’ll look back on this as a little tidbit and a little bump in the road. That’s something that I can be excited about is next year.”
— Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
For now, Zilisch has little choice but to focus on the year ahead, channeling the passion and resilience he exhibited throughout the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series into a new chapter on racing’s biggest stage.
The Impact of a Memorable Finale
Connor Zilisch’s NASCAR Xfinity Series performance has set a new standard for rookie drivers, showcasing not only individual talent but also the emotional highs and lows that define motorsport. Jesse Love’s championship win adds another layer to their storied rivalry and friendship, and both drivers have demonstrated the competitive spirit and sportsmanship that NASCAR fans cherish. With Zilisch moving up to the Cup Series and Love celebrating his title, the 2025 finale at Phoenix may be remembered as a pivotal moment for both young stars.
Pictures say 1,000 words.
The emotions of Connor Zilisch after coming up short of winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. pic.twitter.com/hlfvZGWP4R
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) November 2, 2025
