While his rookie campaign in the NASCAR Cup Series has been challenging, 19-year-old Connor Zilisch continues to dominate the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Zilisch recently secured his 13th career victory and second win of the current season at Watkins Glen International.

The victory was hard-fought, as Zilisch had to navigate through the field and manage front-end damage. The race culminated in a dramatic final lap where he passed his best friend on the very last turn to take the checkered flag.

A Dramatic Finish at Watkins Glen

With this win, Zilisch is now tied with racing legends Terry Labonte and Marcos Ambrose for the most consecutive victories at Watkins Glen, with three.

Reflecting on the final lap, Zilisch emphasized that he did not intend to be "egregious" in his move to overtake Jesse Love. He stated that his goal was simply to "show a nose" and pressure Love into making a mistake.

"I made a mistake that took me out of contention for a little bit there. I wasn’t going to put him at cost because of it," Zilisch explained. He noted that showing his nose was enough to cause Love to lock his right front tire and wash up.

Overcoming Past Mishaps

Zilisch first established his dominance at the 2.45-mile Watkins Glen road course in 2024. Shortly after turning 18, he made his series debut (then known as Xfinity) and earned both the pole position and the victory.

However, his previous celebration became a viral moment for the wrong reasons. After winning last year, Zilisch fell off his car during the celebration and suffered a broken collarbone.

Zilisch admitted with a laugh that he still faces memes on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the fall. He mentioned being tagged in posts following Carson Hocevar's actions at Talladega, noting that he will likely never live the incident down.

A Carefully Planned Celebration

This year's victory also had its share of chaos, as Zilisch flattened his rear tires during his burnout, requiring a tow truck to remove him from the track. His crew eventually replaced the tires so he could proceed to victory lane.

To prevent another injury, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks took precautions by placing a couch pillow from Zilisch’s RV beside the driver’s door. Instead of a standard exit, Zilisch climbed through the roof hatch and slid down the windshield.

When asked if the roof exit was planned, Zilisch admitted he was debating between the roof or the window. He expressed satisfaction at returning to victory lane, noting that he now holds a 2-to-1 advantage over Love.

Friendship and Rivalry on the Track

Jesse Love, who beat Zilisch for the series championship last year, was visibly disappointed by the loss. Love attributed the defeat to a "bad corner" and a series of "a hundred small mistakes."

"I’m just embarrassed," Love admitted, stating that as a driver, such mistakes are unacceptable. He expressed a strong desire to beat Zilisch at Watkins Glen and acknowledged that feeling the pain of the loss would help him improve.

Despite the fierce competition, the two remain close friends. Zilisch’s mother was the first to console Love with a hug before joining her son's celebration.

Zilisch highlighted the mutual respect between them, noting that their parents treat each other like family. He looks forward to continuing their "enemy friendship" as Love eventually makes his way into the Cup Series.