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Connor Zilisch responds to fiery comments, rough racing from William Sawalich after Iowa win

Nick Profile Picby:Nick Geddes•06/16/24•

NickGeddesNews

Connor Zilisch
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Connor Zilisch responded Friday to William Sawalich’s comments after the Atlas 150 at Iowa Speedway in which he said he “lost a little bit of respect” for Zilisch.

Zilisch told Heather DeBeaux of FOX Sports that he doesn’t believe he’s ever raced Sawalich dirty, including during Friday’s race in which the two made contact several times battling for the lead. In the end, it was Zilisch who took the checkered flag after holding off Sawalich on the final restart.

“I honestly don’t know what I could have done different,” Zilisch said. “We were getting into [Turn] 1 there and I felt like he just drove up the track and tried wrecking me. He about tried right hooking me down the back straightaway. I’ll have to talk and ask him what he wants me to do differently. It is racing. He moved me into [Turn] 3. I don’t feel like I’ve ever raced him that dirty. I understand we had our troubles at Dover, and I understand if he has to get me back once or twice, but I feel like he was pretty rough on me.”

William Sawalich not happy with Connor Zilisch after Iowa

Zilisch now has two wins in three career ARCA Menards Series starts and three in five appearances with the East Series. Zilisch, 17, is no doubt an up-and-comer on the racing scene, but when it comes to how Sawalich feels about him, there’s certainly some respect lost.

Sawalich particularly took issue with Zilisch jumping a restart during the race. Of course, that’s his opinion, as ARCA officials reviewed the restart, and no penalty was assessed.

“Definitely a lot of effort,” Sawalich said. “Especially the team I mean I can’t thank them enough to get us up there and up front and we did. We rebounded I felt like, and our Starkey Sound Group Toyota Camry was really good tonight. Had the speed, just not enough there at the end. I felt like something early on happened with the right front, not too sure what it was but kind of just stayed the same consistent tight all throughout the race.

“So definitely fighting that was a hindrance. He jumped the start on one restart, lost a little bit of respect for him right there. Other than that, I tried everything I could.”