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NASCAR has a history of great rivalries. Some start in the Cup Series, while some start at NASCAR’s Developmental level. One of these developmental rivalries may be starting right now in ARCA. William Sawalich and Connor Zilisch are both stellar prospects for Toyota and Chevrolet, but what else is painting the picture for these two to duke it out for years to come?
Connor Zillisch is one of NASCAR’s most popular young stars after springing onto the national stock car racing scene last year at Watkins Glen in ARCA.
This year, Zilisch has had a whirlwind racing in the ARCA Menards Series, Craftsman Truck Series, and now the NASCAR Xfinity Series. First in the Trucks Series, Zilisch made his Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas.
At COTA, Zilisch broke the track qualifying record and looked like the winning truck early on before being a little over-eager heading into turn one. However, in his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen, Zilisch Dominated, leading 45 of 90 laps and bringing home his first career victory in his first career start.
Zillisch really performed this year in the Xfinity Series. In six starts, Connor has won five races at five very different tracks.
William Sawalich is one of Toyota Racing Development’s most promising prospects.
Sawalich burst into ARCA last season, winning four of eight races in the ARCA Menards Series East, including two crossover races with the ARCA Menard Series, in which Swalich also won two races last year.
Swalich also made his debut in the Craftsman Truck Series at age 16 with Tricon Garage at Martinsville. While Sawalich is yet to win in the Truck Series, making five more starts this season, he has dominated in ARCA.
In the 12 ARCA races he has entered this season, Sawalich won 7 and finished in the top ten 11 times.
These two special talents have made a knack for finding each other on the track. This year, the two have gone head to head in ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series East.
It’s easy to see why Sawalich and Zilisch could be a longtime rivalry in NASCAR. Both are the same age, leading the next generation of NASCAR stars.
That generation includes drivers like Rajah Caruth and Corey Heim and is reminiscent of the generation that brought us names like Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.
The two also represent the future of fierce rivals Toyota and Chevrolet. With Zilisch going to the fresh face of Chevy’s lineup, Trackhouse Racing, and Sawalich headed to Toyota staple Joe Gibbs Racing.
While these two are on the same track through NASCAR, with many championship battles ahead, this year’s ARCA battle has been one for the record books. The two have almost traded wins, and in races that they have gone head to head, Zilisch has three wins to Sawalich’s one.
They are currently in a fierce battle for the ARCA Menards Series East championship, with Zilisch up by 16 points and two races left.
While Zilisch is currently leading this battle, this will likely be a career-long war between these two prospects.
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