Connor Zilisch had a mature perspective after a tough outcome in Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix. (Photo: Michael Donahue | The Podium Finish)
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Connor Zilisch had what will be considered the best NASCAR Xfinity Series season in history as a rookie, showcasing his unbridled potential as a stock car wheelman.
Coming into NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race weekend at Phoenix Raceway, the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet entry, fielded by the JR Motorsports organization, was the odds-on favorite to wrap up the season as a champion. Zilisch had a fast car, running sixth in his only practice session of the weekend. Then, he followed that up by qualifying the fastest amongst the Championship 4 drivers, which was good for fourth overall, putting him in good shape for the 200-lap Xfinity Series season finale.
When the race ensued, it was a two-car championship battle right out of the jump between JR Motorsports teammates Justin Allgaier and Zilisch throughout Stage 1. All season long, the No. 88 team has been immaculate when it comes to limiting the mistakes he makes on the track, an uncommon facet for any 19-year-old athlete.
It was experience against youth as Allgaier and Ziilisch duked it out staying within a couple car lengths from each other the whole time. During the run, Zilisch had no complaints about his Chevy, relaying how it was driving especially when he was in clean air over the course of the run.
Stage 1 was a 45-lap dash and even though stage points did not count for the Championship 4 racers, the Nos. 7 and 88 drove like it was for the race win. When the first checkered flag waved, Zilisch finished in fourth right where he started the race. Championship contender Allgaier had him beat finishing third.
Zilisch’s pit crew had a strong stop under caution after the end of stage 1 were the No. 88 came out in the top three. On the CW telecast, Zilisch mentioned during the weekend that as long as he gave 100% effort, he will be absolutely pleased with it. At this point, it was working out in favor of the No. 88.
Stage 2 was when another Championship 4 competitor joined the fray in Richard Childress Racing‘s Jesse Love in the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet. This became a three-car battle for the championship with Love, Allgaier and Zilisch. Still, Zilisch had a consistent car on the long runs.
As the end of Stage 2 approached, it was once again the story of the JR Motorsports teammates except this time they were running 1-2 instead of 3-4 like the opening stage.
However, it was Zilisch playing bridesmaid as Allgaier captured the Stage 2 win, leaving Zilisch and company wanting to find any kind of advantage for the final 110 laps of the season finale. In the third and final stage, there was a chance of green flag pit stops depending on cautions as the fuel window was 90-97 laps.
Connor Zilisch showcased his strong form against the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 field at Phoenix. (Photo: Michael Donahue | The Podium Finish)
Stage 3 didn’t start the way Zilisch wanted to as he came off pit road third amongst championship drivers. This was when he really started to have negative thoughts towards his car for the first time as he said on the radio, “I can’t pass in traffic; I’m not going anywhere in dirty air.”
At a track like Phoenix, a car that struggled in traffic would likely result in a long, trying push to the finish. With 47 laps left, Zilisch got a timely caution after the No. 41 of Ryan Sieg crashed into the outside wall. Even though Love had a great pit stop and was first off, once again, the Zilisch’s No. 88 had their best stop of the night, gaining two spots to go from fourth to second.
He restarted to Love’s outside on the front row. As they came off Turn 1, Zilisch cleared Love for not only the race lead but the championship as well with 35 laps to go. It was crunch time for the phenom to capture his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in his rookie year.
With 25 laps to go, Zilisch’s car started to give way to now faster car of Love, eventually relinquishing the lead. Zilisch slowly started to fade back as he was now in desperate need of a caution in order to have a shot now on Love, the lone wolf in this championship battle against three JR Motorsports’ drivers, Allgaier, Zilisch and Carson Kvapil.
As Zilisch’s car continued to fade, Aric Almirola, who was racing for an owner’s championship for the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, got by him for second. He saw his championship hopes dwindling the more these laps ticked away under green.
Unfortunately for Zilisch, a late race caution like we saw Friday night did not come out which led to Love and Richard Childress Racing winning the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.
After taking time to compose himself after the season finale, Zilisch shared what he learned about himself as a competitor who not only races against his friends, but his comrades when the helmets and firesuits were adorned.
Connor Zilisch learned a great deal in his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, especially in the season finale at Phoenix. (Photo: Matthew T. Thacker | Nigel Kinrade Photography)
“I feel like it’s just been a lesson of not clashing my professional life and personal life. We travel with each other 38 weeks a year. If you don’t have friends, you’re going to become miserable,” Zilisch said. “I feel like I am a very personable person. I like to be friends with everybody.
“At times it can be hard to kind of put those two together. Yeah, you have to be able to separate them and understand what’s professional life and what’s just friendships. It’s tough to balance at times. I feel like Jesse and I have done a good job at that.”
As for the ultimate takeaway for Zilisch, who moves up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing in 2026, it is about being classy regardless of the result.
“Yeah, I’m still so proud of my team, what we’ve accomplished this year,” he shared. “We have nothing to hang our heads about. We were the best car for two-thirds of the year. We dominated until these last three races.
“Yeah, it cost us a championship. 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 5s, poles. There’s no reason we should be upset because of this outcome.”
Editor’s Notes
Michele Aerin contributed to this article directly onsite from Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
