If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. That’s a mantra JR Motorsports has learned, after Connor Zilisch emerged as one of the finest rookie drivers NASCAR has ever seen this year. His jaw-dropping stats boast 10 victories, 19 top fives, and 22 top tens, which will go down in history. But for now, people are biting their nails and clutching at their hair about the upcoming weekend. Zilisch himself is harboring a different attitude, though.

Judgment Day is coming up for Connor Zilisch and three other rivals at Phoenix Raceway. The NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race will be flagged off, and only one person can hoist the trophy. Tensions are on the rise as Zilisch is facing some strong competitors. However, Zilisch is focusing on something else.

Connor Zilisch proclaims a calm attitude

Despite the No. 88 JR Motorsports team’s glorious presence, there is no dearth of doubts. After all, Connor Zilisch faces some talented competitors – Justin Allgaier and Carson Kvapil from JRM, and Jesse Love from Richard Childress Racing. Denny Hamlin, who is competing for a championship himself in the Cup Series, squinted his eyebrows. “I’ll give the nod to Justin,” Hamlin said, predicting that Allgaier would defend his 2024 Xfinity Series title. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr., the team owner of JR Motorsports, is biting his nails in anxiety. He acknowledged that the battle for the trophy is very much up in the air.

However, Connor Zilisch chooses to distance himself from this swarm of doubts. “I want to enjoy this feeling,” was the bold four-word confession he made about his ambitions in a Dale Jr Download episode. “I want to go out and make the most of it. And try to give my team what they deserve and the championship they deserve. And, if we don’t, is this year going to be a failure? Not at all. You know, I feel like no matter what, this year has been a success…I feel more than anything excitement for just the opportunity to go out here and race for a championship in my rookie year.” 

Yet Connor Zilisch did admit to feeling nervous initially. “I’ve had some weird emotions about it,” he said. He compared himself with Carson Kvapil, who is winless and cracked the Championship 4 based on sheer consistency. “Pressure is a privilege. The fact that I’m here, and I feel like I have more on the line than maybe other guys. I have more to lose. I feel like Carson, you can go into this and at worst you come out fourth, and you know, I feel like with the year that you and the one team have had, it’s good. And if you come out winning, it’s like, holy s—.”

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“But I’m excited for it,” he continued. Connor Zilisch will compete in the Cup Series next year, so he wants to savor this star-studded Xfinity season. “This is my last year racing Xfinity. I’m going to be in the Cup Series next year. And I’m going to struggle. I want to enjoy this feeling of being, you know, the guy with 10 wins and the one going into the last race as the one who’s been the favorite for the last couple months.”

Despite Connor Zilisch’s declaration of wanting to enjoy, hints of anxiety still slipped from his words. A NASCAR veteran echoed the same anxiety recently.

Yet another reason to chuck the format

For the past year, NASCAR has been facing a chaotic debate. Ever since Joey Logano became the 2024 Cup Series champion with the worst average finish of 17.1, fans and drivers have clamored for a playoff tweak. The current system narrows down the championship to just one race, as the regular season victories do not count. What’s more, the driver grid is reset after every playoff round, further axing the meritorious element. And presently, people are worried about two drivers. Connor Zilisch in Xfinity and Corey Heim, who owns 11 Craftsman Truck Series wins, could easily lose the title in Phoenix.

If either of the drivers fails to be the champion, there is going to be a louder uproar. “It’s going to be a nuclear meltdown,” Kevin Harvick said. Although NASCAR is taking steps towards a changed playoff format, the 2014 Cup Series champion put more pressure. “The right change is to make as many points matter as possible for as long as possible,” he said. “I think that my biggest thing is if we’re going to have a playoff, you better make the points matter as much as possible, or these people are going to eat you up.”

Evidently, all eyes are on Connor Zilisch to win the Xfinity Series title. We can only wait and see what turns out – hopefully, he can enjoy to till the finish line.