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Connor Zilisch airs out frustrations on radio during Xfinity Series race at Iowa

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Aug 2, 2025 7:21 PM ET

After dropping to the rear of the field for having to pit twice at the end of Stage 1, Connor Zilisch was less than happy on the radio. The young NASCAR driver won the first stage only to find himself mired in traffic throughout the second stage.

Connor Zilisch is searching for his fourth win in a row this season. Everything was going well until he had a loose wheel on his first pit stop and was forced to come back down pit road.

As Zilisch fought from P25 through the field, he was frustrated. He let his team know about it on the radio.

“I’m about to get passed by f***ing Parker Retzlaff. What place are we?” Zilisch said, via Dustin Albino of Jayski, after losing a number of positions. He has been told by his spotter to try and calm down in this final stage.

"I'm about to get passed by f****** Parker Retzlaff. What place are we?" Connor Zilisch says after dropping to 17th.

Mardy Lindley has told spotter Josh Williams to calm Zilisch down. #NASCAR
— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) August 2, 2025

Connor Zilisch led 62 laps before his pit road mistake. Since then, Jesse Love and Ross Chastain have more or less defined this race. Chastain has really put a great performance on he track. He needs a good run in the Xfinity Series. Maybe it will help him tomorrow in the Cup Series race.

There is a good chance we see green flag pit stops in this final stage. If so, that could give Zilisch an opportunity. However, with how good Chastain and Taylor Gray have been in the second half of the race, it is likely going to take cautions and a restart or two to truly challenge for the win.

Connor Zilisch making comeback attempt in final stage

No matter what he did earlier in the race, Connor Zilisch is focused on getting back to the front. He has a great chance of doing it, too. He has reeled in the leaders to within just a few seconds. As lap traffic gets in the way of the leaders, it will likely help.

A restart is going to put Zilisch right on the back of the leaders. It is going to make his job much easier than if he had to do it under green flag conditions. That will include a green flag pit stop and then making a charge back towards the leaders.

Connor Zilisch has won three races in a row. Today, even while struggling, he’s been the best on the track. It is obvious why he has the wins he does, and it won’t be a shock, despite how impressive it will be, if he ends up winning this race today.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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