Class wins at both Daytona and Sebring, a second-place finish in the MX-5 Cup championship as a rookie, and the first American to win the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. This sounds like a list of accolades from a budding open-wheel star, not NASCAR’s hottest prospect since Jeff Gordon. While some may have dismissed Connor Zilisch as just a “road course ringer,” he is in the midst of the greatest rookie season NASCAR has ever seen.
Since we talked with Connor six months ago as he prepared to start his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he has broken the record for most wins in a season by a rookie, has an average finishing position of 1.9 since April, and has tied the record for most consecutive wins ever–a record he could break this week in Bristol. Has this season exceeded his wildest imagination, or does he feel like he’s just doing what he’s supposed to?
Connor with his NASCAR Xfinity Series car owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
After Connor won Watkins Glen in early August, he slipped and had a scary fall while exiting his car in victory lane. He was lucky to escape with just a broken collarbone. But thanks to a successful surgery, less than two weeks later he was ready to tackle the high banks of Daytona–at least, ready enough to start the race. “It’s awesome to be back. I didn’t expect to be back this quickly, so being back in any fashion is great. I’m very grateful that things have healed up reasonably quickly, and glad that the doctors were able to do a great job and get me back in the seat.”
Coming into the series’ second trip to Daytona, he had three road course wins, plus wins at three different oval tracks. With his background in road racing, we asked if any of those wins had surprised him. “I wouldn’t say anything‘s really surprised me,” Connor replied. “I felt like I could win anywhere coming into this year. We’ve just done a really good job executing, and coming to the track every week prepared and doing our jobs. I don’t feel like there’s any place we go that we don’t have a shot to win.”
Connor after winning at Watkins Glen but before breaking his collarbone in victory lane.
“The wins have been more than I expected, no doubt. That’s certainly been a pleasant surprise,” he told us, in regard to regarding his expectations for the year. “To have this amount of success at this point in the season is pretty incredible. I would say my expectation was not to win six races by November, let alone August, and we’ve already done that. We’re exceeding expectations and only getting better each week.”
Just a couple of hours after we spoke at Daytona, Connor suited up to start the race. Since this style of racing is known for its multicar pileups, and since he was still nursing his injured collarbone, the team made the call before the race that they would pull him out of the car at the first opportunity.
Bad weather at the track paused the race fewer than 10 laps in, so he quickly exited the car and passed the steering wheel over to Parker Kligerman, a series veteran who hung up the helmet at the close of the 2024 season and now regularly picks up broadcast mic. Parker was able to cross the finish line first to earn Connor his seventh win of the season, since NASCAR credits the person who starts the race with the final result–regardless of how much of the race they run.
Connor and Parker Kligerman in victory lane at Daytona.
The following afternoon, Connor and Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks hosted a press conference to announce Connor’s promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series for 2026. You may have heard of Trackhouse Racing, from Ross Chastain’s “‘Hail Melon”’ wall–ride, the Cup Series debuts of Kimi Räikkönen and Hélio Castroneves, or Shane van Gisbergen’s win in his NASCAR Cup Series debut during the inaugural Chicago street course race–something that hadn’t been done in the Cup Series in 60 years.
Connor confirmed Trackhouse Racing’s faith in him by winning at the Portland International Raceway road course the following week, and at World Wide Technology Raceway’s oval the week after that. This week he heads to Bristol Motor Speedway, hoping to put his name in the history books again if he can win his fifth consecutive race.
Comments
It’s wild that he hasn’t lost a race since I talked to him last…coincidence?
Been watching him for a while – he’s absolutely got “it”.
Would love to see him aim for F1, but NASCAR is shoveling money at him, why wouldn’t he take it?
– Bill C
BillCuttitta said:
Been watching him for a while – he’s absolutely got “it”.
Would love to see him aim for F1, but NASCAR is shoveling money at him, why wouldn’t he take it?
– Bill C
I kind of like that he’s staying away from the open wheel stuff, because I feel like there is a good chance of him getting chewed up & spit out if he went that route. His skill set has transferred very well to full-body stock cars, but when he switches to the cup series it will certainly be a big step up.
In reply to Austin Cannon :
If I’ve learned one thing about Formula 1 in the short time I’ve been following it, it’s that few things can destroy a motorsports career quite like Formula 1.
It’s a real “sink or swim” kind of deal.
The sad part is he can win 10 races in his rookie year, and still loose the Season Championship
He sure showed his talent in the Mazda MX-5 Cup series.
And then to see him move on/up to other series’ and succeed…he’s the real deal.
Not many people can say they won a Rolex watch at Daytona when they were 18.
Colin Wood said:
In reply to Austin Cannon :
If I’ve learned one thing about Formula 1 in the short time I’ve been following it, it’s that few things can destroy a motorsports career quite like Formula 1.
It’s a real “sink or swim” kind of deal.
Logan Sargeant definitely comes to mind. His older brother Dalton drove some NASCAR, if you didn’t know.
RacingComputers said:
The sad part is he can win 10 races in his rookie year, and still loose the Season Championship
I am a big time hater of the NASCAR playoff system, especially when my favorite driver Kevin Harvick had the season of his life in 2020 but missed the final 4 after 9 wins that year. Such a dumb system.
Coniglio Rampante said:
He sure showed his talent in the Mazda MX-5 Cup series.
And then to see him move on/up to other series’ and succeed…he’s the real deal.
Not many people can say they won a Rolex watch at Daytona when they were 18.
And when you talk to him, he is very humble. He carries himself very well for a 19 year old.
Austin Cannon said:
Colin Wood said:
In reply to Austin Cannon :
If I’ve learned one thing about Formula 1 in the short time I’ve been following it, it’s that few things can destroy a motorsports career quite like Formula 1.
It’s a real “sink or swim” kind of deal.
Logan Sargeant definitely comes to mind. His older brother Dalton drove some NASCAR, if you didn’t know.
Logan is exactly who I had in mind. I’m just glad he’ll be getting some seat time at Indy and Petit Le Mans.
(Which reminds me, I need to set reminders so I don’t miss those races.)
Displaying 1-10 of 20 commentsView all comments on the GRM forums
You’ll need to log in to post.
