{"id":511216,"date":"2026-03-01T06:15:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T06:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/511216\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T06:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T06:15:13","slug":"nascar-news-connor-zilisch-fumes-at-corey-day-over-cota-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/511216\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR news: Connor Zilisch fumes at Corey Day over COTA crash"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Zilisch
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tConnor Zilisch spins after being hit by Corey Day on the third-to-last lap at Circuit of the Americas.<\/p>\n

The JR Motorsports driver started from pole position but began to have brake issues late in Stage 1 and lost the lead to eventual winner Shane van Gisbergen.<\/a><\/p>\n

Those issues got worse in Stage 2, and he lost ground to the leaders. Eventually, the left rear brake rotor blew and forced the team into repairs.<\/p>\n

Despite dropping to the rear of the field, Zilisch fought his way through to be a top five runner inside the final five laps.<\/p>\n

However, that was undone when Corey Day in the #17 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro tipped the #1 JR Motorsports Camaro into a spin coming out of Turn 2 with three laps left.<\/p>\n

Zilisch had just pulled off a pass when Day tagged his right rear and spun him nose-first into the adjacent barrier.<\/p>\n

Connor Zilisch spins off the track during a late push for the front. pic.twitter.com\/95ukfAlBaV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Day finished fifth while Zilisch limped home in 21st.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to watch the Adelaide Motorsport Festival live stream. Heading in? Click here<\/a> to purchase tickets.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everybody saw what happened. I don\u2019t need to explain myself,\u201d said Zilisch.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Roto-Rooter Chevrolet was really fast. We had to change the rear brake and the entire calliper. I hate that it ended like that for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were going to finish top five there, and it\u2019s the same guy that every week does this. Hopefully, he can figure it out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lot of fun. We made a lot of ground and we were one of the fastest cars all day long.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I want is an apology, but the guy just stands over there and stares at me and makes it worse. But he\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Day, who spoke immediately after Zilisch on the Fox broadcast, was apologetic over the clash.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had some part of the pan under the front end there \u2013 come loose, or something \u2013 and I lost a lot of my platform, my front turn there,\u201d Day explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really difficult in any high speed corner. Really nose up. The splitter was not close to the ground, so I was struggling for turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe got right in front of me there, and as soon as he did and crossed over my nose, I lost the little bit of what I had left.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to get no sympathy for that off my track record. It wasn\u2019t intentional. I didn\u2019t want to wreck him or have that happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got no problem going over there and talking to him. It was my mistake, whether I had a broken race or not. I\u2019ll own up to it, I\u2019ll go and apologise, no problem.\u201d<\/p>\n

The NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series continues at Phoenix on March 8.<\/p>\n

SVG secures COTA win with epic five-in-one pass<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US<\/a><\/p>\n


\"\"\/
<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t