Connor Zilisch is having a nightmare for a rookie season. Just when he thought it couldn’t get worse, he was collected by Ryan Preece without even being able to get to the third corner on Lap 1, marking his 7th DNF of the season.

Zilisch didn’t speak to the media after his race, and journalist Matt Weaver posted a picture of  the Trackhouse 88 in the garage and wrote, “Connor Zilisch is not doing post-infield care media.”

Currently far off from the Chase positions, only one driver who has started all races sits behind Zilisch in the points table. Zilisch is 34th, just ahead of Cody Ware in 35th. 

After he decided not to speak to the media, fans came to the support of the 19-year-old. One fan wrote on Weaver’s post, “I don’t blame him one bit. Hopefully he can find a big damn hammer and find something to wreck… I’ve seen rotten luck before, nothing on this scale.”

What happened at Chicagoland wasn't Zilisch's fault. Preece went spinning after contact with Erik Jones, and Zilisch just tried to avoid the clash with him. He turned, but couldn't save himself from crashing in the inside wall.

Zilisch was a real contender for the win in San Diego, but DNFed. Just when he thought he had turned his season around with a 7th place finish in Sonoma, his season got worse in Chicagoland. 

His 7th DNF that came in Chicagoland is the highest amongst anyone on the grid. And what's worse is he’s led just 8 laps, dangerously close to having his number of DNFs match that number.

If it'd help, the rookie should take a look at social media; there is a lot of genuine support for him. 

Fans back Zilisch for going silent post Chicagoland

It’s very hard to speak after a negative result, but as athletes in any sport, it is almost a compulsion to talk to the media, irrespective of your state of mind. 

Zilisch’s call to not speak after barely running a quarter of the first lap may have been the right call because what would you say as a 19-year-old who is trying to make an impact on the sport but constantly facing bad luck?

Fans have been supporting Zilisch, and one wrote, “Can’t blame him, hate it for the kid…”

Matt Weaver himself replied to the above comment and wrote, “Honestly, same. What do we expect him to say that he hasn’t said already and after a quarter mile of racing?”

Another fan backed up Zilisch and wrote, “ What is he supposed to say after 2 corners?”

As fans drew support towards Zilisch, one fan suggested what Zilisch should do to change his luck. 

“They need to bury something to get over this curse honestly the kid should be given some space for a bit, glad he didn’t do media Kevin said it right, it will be bad and embarrassing quite often, just gotta race O’Reilly or trucks part time to gain more confidence side by side.”

As Zilisch goes through his struggles, it doesn’t look like he’s making the Chase this season. At the very least, the rookie will certainly hope he doesn’t DNF anymore.

Hopefully, he can get through the season to build confidence going into his second year in the Cup series. 

Do you think Zilisch can make a strong comeback in the last 7 races this season? Let us know. 

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason