Before Connor Zilisch stepped into the NASCAR scene, the young ace was busy building his racing ground on the go-karts. He began racing them at the age of five and spent a decade in the karting ranks before moving into stock cars in 2021. And little did he know that his stint of teaching young racing aspirants, who are his competitors today, would lead to the start of a long-standing friendship.

It’s no secret that Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch share a friendship that is as funny as it is heartwarming. Whether they are joking around over some cookie skillets for dessert, recreating the viral Coldplay concert couple pose, or pulling off a goofy poster remix, the two always find a way to keep things light and entertaining. And as the two friends gear up to race each other for the Xfinity title, Zilisch shares a warm story of how that friendship began.

Connor Zilisch’s heartfelt bond with Jesse Love

Speaking on the Dale Jr. Download, the 19-year-old revealed how Jesse Love ended up becoming his best friend. “In 2021, I wasn’t really into the NASCAR scene yet…Toyota would pay me a hundred bucks a day to go out there and coach all their development drivers in the go-karts…At this point, I was trying to get my name on the map…So I was doing it, and I met all the Toyota development drivers…Jesse was one of them, and that’s how I met him.”

While Zilisch was starting off and trying to get some “notoriety”, Love was already working in Toyota’s development program, which Zilisch eventually joined. He then revealed how Love took it:

“He (Jesse Love) could probably tell you a little better, but he thought, ‘Who the hell is this kid trying to tell me what to do?’ And that’s all I really did — I was a go-kart racer and a road racer, and I didn’t know any of the kids I was helping. But I was just trying to help them, and now that I look back on it, it’s kind of funny because all those drivers that I was helping, I’m now racing against. So yeah, I met Jesse through that, and we clicked pretty quickly. We’ve been friends ever since.” 

Jesse Love and Connor Zilisch first crossed paths at the Trackhouse Motorplex in 2021, where a young Love, then part of Toyota Racing Development, was still finding his footing in go-karting. And that was the moment that sparked a friendship that has only been growing stronger since.

Though Love took an immediate liking to Zilisch, Jesse Love wasn’t quite ready to take advice from the 19-year-old karting ace just yet. That changed when Zilisch, already known as a karting prodigy, jumped behind the wheel and laid down a blistering run. His sheer pace on the track quickly earned Love’s respect, turning initial resistance into admiration, and the two have been popping off ever since.

Fast forward to this year, and both drivers are chasing glory in a championship-clinching fashion. As the field gears up for the finale at Phoenix, Zilisch has been nothing short of sensational. The JR Motorsports phenom locked in his place in the title fight two weeks ago at Las Vegas, capping off a breakout season.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Jesse Love secured his spot in the Championship 4 last weekend despite a tumultuous race. He arrived with a comfortable points buffer above the elimination line, and although qualifying 21st, he encountered two pit road penalties that pushed him deep in the field. A late caution awarded him the lucky dog free pass back onto the lead lap, and by finishing 23rd, he netted enough points to advance.

But the Championship 4 puts up its high stakes. The two will battle each other fiercely to clinch the championship. Love and Zilisch have finished inside the top five together five times this year, including a one-two finish at Pocono Raceway in June. But Love isn’t really okay with the idea of getting beaten by a friend.

Speaking in the Round of 12 opener, Love disclosed the feeling of losing to a friend. He said, “Does it suck? Getting beat by your friend, yeah, it sucks. I’m not going to try to lie about that and say it doesn’t exist. It does exist. It isn’t fun. I do wish I was on the other side of that coin right now. But I also know that my timing is what it is for a certain reason … so I’m not necessarily worried about it.” 

But now, with the two facing each other at the Phoenix showdown the day after, as racing drivers, they are bound to push each other to the limit. Amid Dale Jr. penning down his favorite driver for the title, Zilisch has other plans for the race.

Connor Zilsich dismisses title pressure amid historical Xfinity 2025 run

Although Connor Zilisch has already confirmed a multi-year deal with Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series next year, all eyes are already on what comes next. Before stepping up, Zilisch wants to soak in every moment of his breakout Xfinity run and finish the year on a high note.

With 10 wins already under his belt, the North Carolina native heads into Phoenix as the undeniable favorite for the championship. Even veteran Kevin Harvick chimed in, suggesting that if the 19-year-old doesn’t clinch the title, it would be “a big embarrassment” given their season-long dominance.

But with all this pressure on him, Zilisch remains laser-focused on the finale. “Pressure is a privilege,” he told Dale Jr. on a recent episode of the Dale Jr Download, capturing the poise that’s defined his rise.

He said, “This is my last year racing Xfinity. I’m going to be in the Cup Series next year, and I’m going to struggle. And I want to enjoy this feeling of being the guy with 10 wins and the one going into the last race is, as the one who’s been the favorite for the last couple of months.”

For someone his age, Zilisch speaks with the composure of a seasoned veteran. He has learned to balance high expectations with gratitude, turning pressure into motivation. He admits accepting defeat is tough, but the thrill of competing for a championship as a rookie outweighs any nerves.

He added, “I want to enjoy this feeling, and I want to go out and make the most of it and try and 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. I feel like no matter what, this year has been a success. And I’ve tried to remind my guys that and tell them that no matter what happens this weekend, we don’t look at this year as this weekend defines our season.”

Earlier this year, Phoenix handed him a humbling P16 finish, a reminder that the desert mile demands everything from its drivers. And now, as his breakthrough season reaches its finale, all eyes and ears will turn to Zilisch to see if he can seal his 2025 Xfinity run with a bang.