Connor Zilisch shared his personal reaction following a difficult loss in the Xfinity Series championship, making his thoughts known after the title race at Phoenix. Facing a hard outcome at just 19 years old, Zilisch reflected on his all-out effort in the championship bid, offering fans an honest look at his mindset and resolving to move forward after the season’s emotional end—centered on the Connor Zilisch championship reaction.
The highly anticipated championship weekend at Phoenix saw Zilisch, representing JR Motorsports, start the finale ahead of his closest competitors. Despite his strong beginning, Zilisch ultimately finished behind Jesse Love, his best friend and this year’s new Xfinity Series champion. Both drivers led an almost even number of laps, but expectations weighed heavily on Zilisch, who had already made history with 10 wins, 20 top-ten finishes, and over 1,000 laps led in his standout rookie season. This defeat was especially tough, considering the pace and consistency he brought to the series throughout the year.
In the days after the championship race, Zilisch addressed reporters during a press conference, making clear how he has been coping with the setback. In his own words, he stated:
“At the end of the day, I did everything I could. And my team, the whole JR Motorsports group, we gave our all, and I don’t have any reason to be upset about what happened. Yeah, it stings. It sucks. But yeah, we did everything we could and we tried our best.”
— Connor Zilisch, Driver, JR Motorsports
“If I walked out of that place knowing that I could have done something differently, then I probably would have been a little more upset. But I gave it my all. I did everything I could, and yeah, the result wasn’t meant to be,” he added.
— Connor Zilisch, Driver, JR Motorsports
Despite coming up short, Zilisch reinforced that he feels at peace with his own performance, noting he left nothing on the table. Looking ahead, Zilisch will be making a major leap as he moves up into the Cup Series next year. He joins Trackhouse Racing, where he will race alongside notable drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain. Adding to this new chapter, part-time NASCAR driver Stefan Parsons has been named as his spotter for the upcoming season.
Zilisch Discusses His Feelings After the Title Race With Jesse Love
After the loss, Connor Zilisch spoke publicly about his relationship with Jesse Love, the Richard Childress Racing competitor who claimed the championship. Zilisch was open about harboring no negative feelings toward Love’s victory, taking time to emphasize the respect he holds for his rival and close friend. He explained their interaction following the final race:
“He did nothing wrong. He asked me, he’s like, ‘are you mad at me?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t have any reason to be mad at you, dude. You’re not the one who created the situation. You just executed when you needed to.’,” Zilisch said via the aforementioned source.
— Connor Zilisch, Driver, JR Motorsports
The statistical differences between the two finalists add context to Zilisch’s disappointment. While Jesse Love earned the opening win of the season at the Daytona 500, he was unable to secure another victory until his dramatic win in the Phoenix championship race. Love also faced setbacks of his own, being disqualified from a win at Rockingham Speedway due to a technical rules violation. Nevertheless, Love ended the season with four pole positions and finished second twice. His average finishing position across the year was 11th place, compared to Zilisch’s impressive 8th. Furthermore, Love achieved less than half as many top-five finishes as Zilisch.
As Zilisch prepares for his first season at the Cup Series level, both the driver and his supporters reflect on a breakthrough debut year marked by intensity, record-setting runs, and the emotional turbulence that follows such a narrow defeat.
The ending of this Xfinity Series season brought both heartbreak and new beginnings, as Zilisch emphasized growth, resilience, and integrity in the face of a difficult loss. Fans and the wider NASCAR community will watch closely to see how he channels these experiences as he moves forward with Trackhouse Racing and faces new challenges among the sport’s elite, alongside figures like Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain.
