Connor Zilisch
19-Year-Old Driver
Trackhouse Racing
2026 Cup Stats
Points
14
Starts
2
Wins
0
Poles
0
Top 5
0
Top 10
0
2026 Fantasy Outlook
The talented 19-year-old makes the jump from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series in 2026. Zilisch will take a third seat at Trackhouse Racing and pilot the team's No. 88 Chevrolet in the upcoming season. This young driver absolutely demolished NASCAR's junior circuit in 2025 with a whopping 10 victories and 23 Top-10 finishes. Zilisch wouldn't win the championship due to the quirkiness of the playoff format, but his record-setting season in this division of NASCAR turned heads. He made just three Cup Series starts last year so his seat time in the Cup car is very limited. Zilisch seemed to struggle in those three efforts and his top finish was 11th-place at Atlanta. Randall Burnett comes over from Richard Childress Racing to Trackhouse to be crew chief for this young talent. There will be a learning curve, but it could be pretty quick for Zilisch. His impact won't be immediate but he should shine at times during his rookie season. Read Past Outlooks
Wins Focused Health 250 Pole
Zilisch won the pole for the Focused Health 250 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Circuit of The Americas on Friday. He turned a fast lap of 88.398 mph.
ANALYSIS
Zilisch found a good bit of speed over the afternoon's earlier practice at COTA. He'd crack the 88 mph mark in his final flying laps of the session to edge Shane van Gisbergen for pole position. It was his first pole of the season and the 10th-career pole position for Zilisch. The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet will be a top contender to win Saturday's Focused Health 250.
Zilisch found a good bit of speed over the afternoon's earlier practice at COTA. He'd crack the 88 mph mark in his final flying laps of the session to edge Shane van Gisbergen for pole position. It was his first pole of the season and the 10th-career pole position for Zilisch. The driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet will be a top contender to win Saturday's Focused Health 250.
Racing Stats
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Track Stats
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
The 18-year-old talent is making the move to full-time Xfinity Series racing in 2025. Zilisch made some part-time forays into both the trucks and Xfinity last season and had quite a bit of success. In his four Xfinity Series starts he grabbed one win (Watkins Glen) and three Top-5 finishes. Zilisch has won at every level that he's raced and that includes sports cars. He racked up impressive wins at both Daytona (Rolex 24) and Sebring in IMSA. Zilisch is a gifted road racer but he also is getting better by the day on NASCAR ovals. He makes a tantalizing prospect in the JRM No. 88 Chevrolet in the upcoming season just on potential alone. The young driver is a head turner and should have Rookie of the Year honors in the bag.
More Fantasy News
Rolex 24 with Whelen Cadillac
Zilisch has been officially confirmed as part of the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for the 64th Rolex 24 At Daytona. He'll join the previously announced trio of Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti to kick off the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.
ANALYSIS
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Third in Season Finale
Zilisch finished third in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
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Tops Xfinity Practice
Zilisch was fastest in Happy Hour practice for the Xfinity Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway on Friday afternoon. He turned a fast lap of 128.365 mph.
ANALYSIS
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Runner up in Las Vegas
Zilisch finished second in the Focused Health 302 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
ANALYSIS
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Wins the Blue Cross NC 250
Zilisch won the Blue Cross NC 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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