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Dale Earnhardt Jr. 'nauseous' watching Connor Zilisch, Carson Kvapil race at COTA

JHby:Jonathan Howard•03/01/25•

Jondean25

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

I’m not sure how Dale Earnhardt Jr. managed to watch the last 20 laps of the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at COTA. His two rookies, Connor Zilisch and Carson Kvapil were battling for the lead and almost pushed each other out of the race.

That last restart was intense. Austin Hill made a huge move to take the lead and then he locked up his tires. That is when Carson Kvapil made his move. But Connor Zilisch was also making moves. He ended up hip-checking Corey Heim and causing right front damage to his own car.

For the NASCAR fans watching at home, it was thrilling racing. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., it was nausea-inducing. He could barely stand to watch, and it’s only three weeks.

“Very proud of [Connor Zilisch] and [Mardy Lindley] and the [JR Motorsports] team,” Earnhardt posted after the race. “That battle with Carson made me nauseous. Gonna be a fun but very stressful year!”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a wealth of riches this season. In what is likely the most stacked rookie class ever in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Earnhardt has the two best in the class. Zilisch and Kvapil made a huge statement today.

Over the years, JR Motorsports has earned a reputation for wrecking themselves. When you have four or five cars on track each week, that tends to happen.

This was only the third race of the season and it could very well be one of the best races all year. That Zilisch and Kvapil battle up until the right front gave out on the No. 1 car was epic. I’m not sure anyone expected that kind of fight from Kvapil on a road course.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets win with Connor Zilisch

It only took three weeks and one road course race for Connor Zilisch to put his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevy into Victory Lane. From a pitting under caution penalty to major damage on his right front, Zilisch got the job done in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at COTA.

On top of the penalty and slamming into Corey Heim with 20 laps to go, Connor Zilisch perhaps had the most intense one-on-one battle with his own teammate. Carson Kvapil was a few laps from earning runner-up, but his right front tire couldn’t handle the punishing racing.

Even when he’s in the back of the field, his tire is rubbing his fender, and his fuel is running a bit low – Zilisch gets the job done. You can’t throw him off his game.

Now the real test begins tomorrow. The 18-year-old will start P14 in his Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has him in his 88 car now, but it won’t be long before Zilisch is moving up to the big league.