Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sends a Chilling Warning to Connor Zilisch over Aggressive Racing at Chicago

Connor Zilisch put forth an extremely sublime performance in Chicago, delivering a remarkable turnaround in results. The JRM star started the race from last place and had faint hopes of finishing in the Top 10. However, the 18-year-old didn’t hold back in battling his rivals, and after a hard-fought race, Zilisch ended up in P2, after climbing to P8 in the first stage itself. Despite the young gun’s impressive comeback, he raced a little too physically at times, as Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighs in on his performance on Sunday.

Connor Zilisch‘s wreck during the practice session, causing great damage to his car, meant that he had to start the Street Course of Chicago from dead last. However, even before the first stage ended under caution, the 18-year-old was already in the top 10 and looking for a promising finish. Midway through the race, Zilisch was involved in an incident with Thomas Annunziata around Turn 8.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. immediately questioned Zilisch if he had put somebody in the wall forcefully at Turn 8. The 18-year-old was unaware of the situation as he said on the team radio that Annunziata did not hit the wall. The #88 driver accepted that he moved the #70 driver as the latter tried to pass him right after losing the position.

Dale Earnhardt Jr: Did you put somebody in the wall in Turn 8?
Connor Zilisch: I don’t think he hit the wall, but I moved him, He tried to pass me back after I passed him.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said to Connor Zilisch on team radio.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. then sternly informed Connor Zilisch that the #70 driver did indeed hit the wall despite not being at fault, as the young gun simply raced too hard. The Hall of Famer then warned Zilisch that he was right next to Annunziata’s pit stall and didn’t want the latter to come in and pit due to damage from the collision. Following this back-and-forth on the team radio, the #88 drove rather safely and did not collect damage from any other on-track battles.

I think he hit the wall, I’m in the pit stall next to him and I don’t want him coming over here.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added on the team radio.

Connor Zilisch reveals he expected Shane van Gisbergen to race him ‘cleaner’

Shane van Gisbergen emerged victorious and achieved his second victory on the Chicago street course circuit. However, Gisbergen’s victory didn’t come easily as Connor Zilisch fought with him all throughout the final stages of the race. Despite the 18-year-old’s hard work, he succumbed to a runner-up finish and couldn’t beat his teammate. Now, the #88 driver asserted that he expected cleaner racing from the veteran at Chicago.