Connor Zilisch becomes NASCAR spotter for Stefan Parsons

Connor Zilisch is used to hearing Stefan Parsons’ voice through the Cup Series headset. At Nashville this weekend, they’ve swapped roles: Parsons will drive the No. 4 Niece Motorsports truck while Zilisch watches from the roof and calls the race. Zilisch admit

Every Sunday, Connor Zilisch has Stefan Parsons in his ear as his NASCAR Cup spotter. This week, the timing flips them on their heads.

For the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville. Parsons takes the wheel in his first start of the year—driving the No. 4 Niece Motorsports entry—and Zilisch climbs to the roof to become the eye in the sky. The job is the same in principle. but the vantage point is totally different: Parsons will listen for guidance from above. while Zilisch guides him through the race.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun experiencing something new,” Zilisch said ahead of the race weekend. “I’m glad that Stefan trusts me to do it. There’s a lot of guys who could probably do it better than me but it’s going to be cool to do that and learn what it’s like from a new perspective. I’ve spotted on road courses and at the Cup race at Indy but leading the charge at the truck race at Nashville is going to be different.”.

Zilisch said the best part of spotting isn’t just seeing—it’s controlling the moment.

“On the key to being a good spotter… it’s all about ‘not being panicked and staying calm. and feeding the information when I can without talking too much. ’” he said. He added that he believes he knows what he needs to do and what he needs to say. “I feel like I have a good understanding of what I need to do. I hope I’m able to relay the information that I need to throughout the good situations and the bad. Stefan is a really good dude and helps me a lot as a driver in the Cup Series with the notes that he takes.”.

The relationship adds another layer. Stefan Parsons is the son of NASCAR Cup Series race winner Phil Parsons and the nephew of 1973 NASCAR Cup champion Benny Parsons.

For Parsons, this will be his 29th start in the Truck Series as he aims for what would be a major bounce in results—securing his fourth career top ten finish.

By the time race week arrives, the swap isn’t just technical. It’s personal pressure, too.

Before Zilisch’s “debut” as a spotter, he asked the broadcast—smiling—that people shouldn’t make too much fun of him, because it was something he has never done before. Then Friday night brought another delay, with rain postponing the start of the race and forcing him to wait.

During that pause, Zilisch spoke from atop the Nashville roof and said the moment had him feeling both nervous and excited.

“I feel a little more nervous than when I’m behind the wheel,” he said. “I have the fate of Stefan’s day in my hands. I’m really excited for it, trading in the steering wheel for a headset. I enjoy getting different perspectives on race day. Today I’m spotting, tomorrow I’m broadcasting, and Sunday I’m racing. It’s going to be a fun weekend doing things I’m probably not very comfortable with. but I’m looking forward to it.”.

The exchange of roles didn’t end up changing the result the way either of them probably hoped.

Parsons finished 18th in the No. 4 Niece Motorsports entry.

The truck race at Nashville was still a turning point for the weekend schedule—Zilisch swapping from guiding drivers to being the one who calls from above—but the numbers on the day came down to 18th, after rain stretched the night and left everyone waiting a little longer than planned.

Connor Zilisch Stefan Parsons NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Niece Motorsports Nashville spotter rain delay