Kenny Wallace had plenty to say about the post-race drama between Connor Zilisch and Corey Day following their incident at COTA, and he didn’t hold back on where he stood.
In a video, Wallace took his stance, reacting to the situation while dropping a three-word banger that distinguishes the senior racers from the new generation and points out other critical factors.
Kenny Wallace Talks About Connor Zilisch and Corey Day’s Fallout
“Kids These Days,” Wallace’s three words, were enough to explain the situation from his point of view.
Day got into Zilisch, spinning him out during the race, but Day recovered to finish fifth, a solid result by any measure. Zilisch, widely regarded as one of the premier road racers of his generation, got on the radio afterward and called Day “a hack.”
Wallace acknowledged the heat of the moment, but what came next is what really got him talking.
Wallace pointed a finger squarely at the media. “You went and goated him,” he said, recalling how TV crews immediately tracked down Zilisch on pit road, fully aware they could coax something explosive out of him.
Psychology 101, as Wallace put it, because if you ask a fired-up driver what he thinks about the guy who just wrecked him, you already know what you’re going to get. And then everyone acts surprised when the answer makes headlines.
But the moment that stung Zilisch most wasn’t the wreck itself. During the live TV interview, Zilisch said it made things worse that Day was standing nearby, looking over, and wouldn’t walk across to apologize.
That, according to Wallace, was the real issue, and one he felt had a simple fix. Day should have gone over there immediately and said, “Sorry, plain and simple.”
Meanwhile, Day did what many young drivers do these days. He got on a plane and took to social media.
And Wallace gave him credit for it because Day’s apology was genuine. Day admitted he needed to do better and acknowledged a rough stretch over the past two weeks.
Mark Martin even chimed in, telling Day he was glad he recognized it and that he’d be watching going forward. In other words, the message was clear: dial it back, because the talent is undeniable, but the aggression needs reining in.
Wallace offered context that goes deeper than just this one incident. Day comes from dirt racing, a world built on short heat races and features where standing on the gas isn’t just encouraged, it’s survival.
Wallace compared him to Terry Labonte in that relentless style, quiet and real off the track, but an absolute gasser once the helmet goes on. That background explains a lot, even if it doesn’t excuse everything.
And that’s really where Wallace landed. He wasn’t condemning either driver. He said these are the two kids who will carry the sport into the next decade, and he meant it without a hint of sarcasm.
Zilisch and Day, remember those names, because Wallace clearly believes the future of racing runs right through both of them. He just wants to see them handle off-track moments as well as on-track ones.
