Connor Zilisch had just crossed the finish line at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), claiming a dramatic victory in the Focused Health 250. But instead of celebrating recklessly, the 18-year-old immediately acknowledged his aggressive driving. “I did not drive a clean race at all. Sorry to everyone that I hit,” he admitted. The statement was unexpected from a driver who had just fought his way from the back of the field to claim his second Xfinity Series win. While his skill and speed were undeniable, his willingness to apologize showed maturity beyond his years.

It was contrasting for NASCAR fans, who had recently witnessed one of the most aggressive driving performances. Just a week ago in Atlanta, Carson Hocevar made headlines for his unapologetic, aggressive driving. While his fellow drivers fumed with his maneuvers, he remained unaffected. However, 18-year-old JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch has a different view. In a recent interview, he not only called out Hocevar but also revealed why he doesn’t want to be the next ‘supervillain’ of the NASCAR world.

Connor Zilisch aims to earn respect!

Connor Zilisch is quickly making a name for himself in NASCAR. At just 18 years old, he has already drawn comparisons to Joey Logano and has the backing of Dale Earnhardt Jr. But beyond his driving skills, he’s showing he has the awareness to navigate the sport’s politics. On the Rubbin’ is Racing podcast, Zilisch made it clear that he doesn’t want to be NASCAR’s next villain. And while explaining his stance, he took a well-aimed shot at Carson Hocevar, who seems to have fully embraced the role.

When asked about the challenge of balancing aggression with respect in the Cup Series, Zilisch said, “Yeah, it’s a fine line that you walk, right? You don’t want to go out there and let them bully you and take advantage of you because you’re a rookie. But at the same time, you can’t overdo it and do what Carson did this weekend and piss everyone off, because that’s how you get yourself in trouble. Once you lose other people’s respect, it’s really hard to get it back.”

Notably, Zilisch’s comments had their backing. Carson Hocevar made some blistering moves to finish a career-best second in Atlanta. However, in his pursuit of the finish line, he made some enemies. His aggressive tactics have drawn criticism from several veteran drivers, including Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. The Rowdy even threatened Hocevar that he wouldn’t mind wrecking him.

Despite the backlash, Hocevar remained firm in his approach. Ahead of the COTA weekend, he said, “I race for me, myself and I.” The contrast is clear. Hocevar doesn’t mind making enemies on the track. He has already built a reputation for being unapologetically aggressive, even at the cost of angering veterans. On the other hand, Zilisch wants to earn trust. He isn’t afraid to race hard, but he knows there’s a fine line between standing your ground and burning bridges.

Notably, Zilisch has had his moments of aggressive racing. His Xfinity Series win at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) wasn’t exactly smooth. He made contact with Corey Heim and even battled his teammate, Carson Kvapil. However, unlike Hocevar, Zilisch seems to take a more self-reflective approach. Instead of doubling down, he admitted he had work to do. “I made some moves that were probably questionable, and I’ve got some sorry to say,” he said after taking the checkered flag.

Despite this, Zilisch isn’t completely innocent. Dale Jr.’s veteran Xfinity Champion had some words for Zilisch after the two tangled. “We will have to sit down and talk about it to see what his mindset was in that moment. I don’t know if I wasn’t there that he was making the corner to be honest with you.” 

Despite the ongoing debate about the next villain of the NASCAR world, Connor Zilisch is now focused on a bigger prize. After winning the Saturday Xfinity race in COTA, the 18-year-old driver aims to become the youngest driver to win a cup race. Before the race weekend, he had clarified that he wanted to break Joey Logano’s 16-year-old record and register his name in the history books. On Sunday, he will make his Cup series debut with Trackhouse Racing, and it’s going to be an interesting journey for JR Motorsports driver.

Shane van Gisbergen praises Zilisch!

As Zilisch moves forward in his career, he’s receiving guidance from one of NASCAR’s most skilled road course racers—Shane van Gisbergen (SVG). The New Zealand-born driver, who won his Cup Series debut in Chicago, has taken Zilisch under his wing. The two have spent a lot of time together, and SVG has taken a liking to the young racer. “We get along really well,” SVG said when asked about their relationship.

Three-time Supercars champion who is also in his rookie Cup season, praised the 18-year-old driver. He also acknowledged that despite the age gap, the two have formed a strong bond. “At the start of the year, we spent almost every day together with production days and WeatherTech stuff. He’s a great young kid… I think I’m pretty much twice his age.” Notably, Zilisch has leaned on SVG for advice, especially for road course racing.

While he is already considered a talented road racer, he understands that mastering NASCAR’s Next-Gen car is a distinct challenge. SVG’s experience in various racing disciplines makes him the perfect mentor. The real test of Zilisch’s learning comes on Sunday. He starts 14th in his Cup debut at COTA. His Xfinity win will boost his confidence. But he knows he will face some of NASCAR’s best.