Connor Zilisch admires NASCAR Hall of Famer and NHRA drag racing star Tony Stewart, whose fierce racing style is well known. While Stewart often expresses himself boldly, sometimes through aggressive on-track actions or heated exchanges, Zilisch takes a more respectful approach in his competitions. This contrast highlights how Tony Stewart’s influence on Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love extends beyond aggression, blending intensity with sportsmanship.
Zilisch’s relationship with fellow driver Jesse Love exemplifies this dynamic. Though the two share a strong friendship outside of racing, their rivalry heats up when they strap into their cars. Despite their competitive battles, Zilisch tends to avoid taking grudges personally, even in the event of on-track contact from Love.
Reflecting on Stewart’s infamous declaration about wrecking even his own mother to win, Zilisch offered his own perspective after securing victory in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway:
“You know the saying, ‘I’d wreck my mom for a win,’”
—Connor Zilisch
He explained the challenge in maintaining personal relationships while competing fiercely:
“It’s tough because you don’t want to have to go hang out on Monday and him be mad at me.”
—Connor Zilisch
Yet, Zilisch emphasized the importance of racing with determination when it counts most:
“But at the same time, a win is a win. If it’s for fifth place or whatever, I might be a little bit nicer than most other guys. But for the win, I’m going to race everyone like I want to win and that’s kind of just the bottom line and he would do the same and I expect the same out of him.”
—Connor Zilisch
Balancing Rivalry and Friendship: How Zilisch and Love Support Each Other
Throughout the recent race, Love made a mistake that allowed Zilisch to take the lead, which he maintained until the checkered flag. Despite this moment of advantage, the competition between the two remained respectful and free of tension. Their friendship off the track contributes to a unique dynamic rarely seen among rivals.
Zilisch described the cooperative nature of their relationship, explaining how they assist one another in different racing disciplines:
“We’re really good friends off the track, we help each other,”
—Connor Zilisch
He elaborated on their mutual support system:
“I help him on the road courses and he helps me on the ovals vice-versa.”
—Connor Zilisch
The pair encourage each other to improve continuously, holding one another to high standards:
“We help each other a lot but at the same time we push each other to be better too. We hold each other to a standard and when one of us isn’t doing well, we let the other one know.”
—Connor Zilisch
Speaking about the motivation their friendship provides, Zilisch said:
“It’s really cool to have someone like him that I can lean on and that also pushes me to be better,”
—Connor Zilisch
“We’re both pretty young and coming up and I don’t want to get beat by him and he doesn’t want to get beat by me either, so it pushes both of us to be better.”
—Connor Zilisch
Victory at Pocono Reinforces Zilisch’s Rising Momentum with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Supporting
Zilisch’s win at Pocono marked his second triumph this season, following an earlier victory at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. His fierce but respectful rivalry with Jesse Love is defined by close competition and mutual growth as they advance their racing careers. On this occasion, Zilisch was guided by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., who served as his crew chief in a one-off role, helping sharpen his strategy during the race.
The final margin was less than half a second between Zilisch and Love, underscoring the intense but friendly nature of their battles on the track. This ongoing competition driven by respect and shared ambition embodies the influence Tony Stewart has had on both drivers, inspiring them to combine passion with professionalism.
As these young racers continue honing their skills and challenging each other, their evolving rivalry, shaped by Stewart’s example, promises to deliver exciting and compelling moments in NASCAR’s future.
