Currently leading the ARCA East standings, Connor Zilisch is driving for six different teams across multiple formats. Rumors were rampant in January that Trackhouse and JRM were in talks to promote the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner to the Xfinity Series full-time in 2025. The 2024 development driver for Trackhouse Racing, who just turned 18 nine days back, is just over six weeks away from being on a four-race slate with JR Motorsports’ No. 88 in the Xfinity Series.

Door Bumper Clear dropped its latest episode on Tuesday. In talks with NASCAR’s midseason prospect, Zilisch’s racing ethics as a young driver navigating the fine line between competition and camaraderie have sparked quite a conversation. Hosts Brett Griffin and Freddie Kraft, Connor Zilisch, and Jesse Love playfully discussed the races this season. Sharing his thoughts on his preferred racing style which is committing to clean driving and respect for his competitors, Zilisch said,

“I try and separate anything. Like the people we are on the race track are not who we are off the race track, right? It’s two different people for me. You know, a friend races me, you know, disrespects me on the race track, I’ll take note of that, and the next time I’m racing, I’ll remember it.

But I separate that from the friendship we have off the race track. I try to do that. It’s tough at times because you want to let the two intertwine, you know. But to have a friendship in the sport, you got to be able to put things to the side. I don’t race like that.” 

Talking about how he is “one-up” over RCR Xfinity driver Jesse Love when it comes to wrecking, he clarified how he never intentionally wrecks his fellow racers. Jesse Love nearly spun him out during the Watkins Glen race last year and edged Zilisch by 0.195 seconds to take the win. Yet, Zilisch shares no hard feelings, considering the competitive nature of the sport and the necessity of self-policing among drivers. “But that’s the thing. I don’t race like that. You know, like [Shane van Gisbergen] talked about it, I’m used to getting a penalty for that stuff. So, I don’t race like that.”

This holds true for Zilisch even when he is under pressure. He does what he preaches. For instance,

• In the Arca Menards Series at Dover Motor Speedway (April 16), Zilisch took advantage of the leader in William Sawalich’s mishaps that called for a late-race caution and got a good jump on Gio Ruggiero and held him off by 0.986 seconds to lead the final eight laps of the General Tire 150 to claim his first series win. Or rather, his first national series win.
• He continued with a hot streak of victories, winning the next two East Series events at the Atlas 15o (Iowa Speedway) and Circle City 500 (Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park), both in dominating fashion. In Iowa, Zilisch’s racing ethics became a talking point when he demanded an understanding from his East Series Championship rival Sawalich, “I felt like he just drove up the track and tried wrecking me. He about tried right hooking me down the back straightaway. I’ll have to talk and ask him what he wants me to do differently. I don’t feel like I’ve ever raced him that dirty.”

In an X post from mid-June, after the Iowa race, Zilisch even noted the wrecks, as he wrote, “Almost wrecked like 4 times but we got it done at @iowaspeedway! Stressful, but felt good to close that one out.”

So, in a sport where bumping and shoving can be the norm, Zilisch acknowledged learning a great deal from drivers like Shane van Gisbergen. Remember the Xfinity race at COTA when Austin Hill was awarded the moniker “villain,” after he snatched a near win to put it on the laps of Kyle Larson?

Connor Zilisch’s take on his racing ethics and what influenced him

Kaulig Racing Team’s Shane van Gisbergen has made a name for himself with his bold racing style, often pushing the limits to secure victories, but it also comes at a cost. SVG noted after battling for the lead after the COTA incident with Austin Hill as a “100%” fine move to the NASCAR report at the post-race media interaction.

The opportunity for a sweet revenge was presented just 11 weeks later when SVG took a win at the West Coast road course in Sonoma, nudging Hill on a late-race restart. In the post-race interview, SVG claimed, “I don’t know. I hate racing and thinking like that.”

Connor Zilisch recognizes this duality and seems to choose a more measured approach. He respects drivers who race with honor, like Cole Custer and Sheldon Creed, while understanding that some competitors might not hesitate to use more aggressive tactics. Now that’s quite the observation skills!

Zilisch’s philosophy is rooted in self-policing on the track. His journey to this realization may not have been easy, likely influenced by observing how SVG balances aggression with respect for fellow competitors. He understands that while winning is important, it should not come at the expense of another driver’s race. Combining the driving styles of SVG, Cole Custer, and Sheldon Creed, Zilisch aims to differentiate himself in a sport where bumping and shoving can sometimes overshadow the essence of racing.

But this is just the beginning for young driver Connor Zilisch, who is still carving out his identity in NASCAR by prioritizing respect and integrity over reckless driving. Hopefully, he won’t encounter situations that challenge his belief system, but in the ruthless world of motorsports, who knows?

As he continues to develop his skills and navigate racing’s complexities, Zilisch’s approach may set a new standard for the next generation of drivers. Let’s see how far he can go with this ideology and if it lasts till the end of the season!