Watkins Glen International has a new king, and his name is Connor Zilisch. The 19-year-old rising star proved once again why he's the master of this iconic road course, pulling off a heart-stopping victory in the final corner of the last lap to claim his third consecutive win at the track.
While Zilisch may be navigating a tough rookie season in NASCAR's Cup Series, he's absolutely untouchable in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series at Watkins Glen. This weekend, he had to fight through adversity like a true champion—charging through the field after starting deep, battling front-end damage on his JR Motorsports Chevrolet with just six laps remaining, and then staging a dramatic last-corner pass against his best friend, Jesse Love.
The victory marks Zilisch's 13th career O'Reilly win and his second of the season, tying him with legends Marcos Ambrose and Terry Labonte for three straight triumphs at the historic New York track. But this one was anything but easy.
"On that final lap, I didn't plan to do anything egregious to move him," Zilisch explained. "I just wanted to show a nose and try to force him into making a mistake. I made a mistake earlier that took me out of contention for a bit, so I wasn't going to put him at cost because of it. I'll do anything to win, but I'm not just going to ship a guy in the last corner. I showed a nose, and it was enough for him to lock his right front and wash up."
Zilisch's love affair with Watkins Glen began in 2024 when he made his debut in the series—then known as Xfinity—just after turning 18. That year, he captured the pole and the win, setting the stage for what's becoming a legendary run. But his victory last year came with a painful twist: during his victory lane celebration, he fell off his car and broke his collarbone. The moment went viral, and it's a memory that sticks with him to this day.
"I feel like I have memes on X every week about me falling," Zilisch said with a laugh. "After Carson Hocevar did what he did at Talladega, I got tagged in so many things saying, 'Don't let Connor do this.' I'm certainly never going to live that one down. But I definitely get some comedic relief out of it."
This year's celebration was slightly less dramatic—but no less memorable. After flattening his car's rear tires during a smoky victory burnout, a wrecker had to tow him off the track. His crew quickly swapped in fresh rubber, allowing the young star to finally bask in the glory of another Watkins Glen masterpiece.
For fans of racing and fashion alike, Zilisch's signature style—both on and off the track—continues to inspire. Whether you're chasing your own victory or just looking to channel that champion energy, gear up like a true winner.