Earnhardt Jr. Sends Straightforward Message After Connor Zilisch’s COTA Remorse

In the latest episode of the *Dale Jr. Download* podcast, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his thoughts on Connor Zilisch’s victory at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in the Xfinity Series and addressed the aftermath of a tense on-track battle between Zilisch and his JR Motorsports teammate, Carson Kvapil.

Zilisch, an 18-year-old prodigy, secured his second Xfinity Series win on Saturday, March 1, at COTA, but his path to victory was far from easy. The race saw Zilisch and Kvapil battling each other fiercely for the lead, which ultimately led to a dramatic series of events. Zilisch, who had previously been penalized for a commitment line violation, found himself at the back of the pack following the restart. However, he managed to climb through the ranks, fighting hard to take the lead from his teammate on Lap 56 after Kvapil’s #1 Chevy suffered a blown front tire.

In discussing the aftermath of the race, Earnhardt Jr. revealed that Zilisch felt a sense of remorse over the incident. The young driver expressed regret for how the battle played out with his teammate, a sentiment Earnhardt Jr. acknowledged during their conversation.

“You learn over the course of your career, I think, to be a good teammate and try to help your teammates when you can, because that’s gonna come around and help you,” Earnhardt Jr. shared. “Their crew chiefs see it, their crew chiefs, then wanna help you.”

However, the veteran driver also made it clear that racing in a team environment doesn’t mean holding back when it comes to competition on the track. He emphasized that with

Feb 12, 2025; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks on during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

multiple strong cars and talented drivers within a team, it’s inevitable that they will race each other hard, and sometimes that leads to tough moments.

“And listen, if you got four, and in this case, five cars that are very good cars, and five very capable race car drivers, they’re going to hit, they’re going to hit, they’re going to run up front, they’re going to have to battle each other for positions, and they’re going to have to battle each other hard,” Earnhardt Jr. concluded.

Zilisch’s victory at COTA was impressive, as he led 26 laps of the 95-lap race, with a top speed of 86.547 mph. His teammate Kvapil, on the other hand, finished 23rd, with a top speed of 86.635 mph and led seven laps.

While Zilisch may have expressed remorse for his on-track battle with Kvapil, Earnhardt Jr.’s message highlights the reality of racing at a high level: when teammates are all racing for the win, tensions can rise, and fierce competition is part of the game. This kind of hard racing, Earnhardt Jr. pointed out, is essential for the growth and development of young drivers like Zilisch.