Career Highlights
Connor Zilisch is one of the most hyped young talents in NASCAR history. The Weddington, North Carolina, native won 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2025 before graduating to the Cup Series full-time in 2026 with Trackhouse Racing, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet.
In addition to his Cup schedule, Zilisch competes part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series with JR Motorsports, sharing the No. 1 Chevrolet with Carson Kvapil. On April 11, 2026, Zilisch won the Suburban Propane 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, his 12th career O'Reilly Series victory and first of the 2026 season, after crew chief Rodney Childers made the call to stay out on old tires with 28 laps remaining while Kyle Larson pitted. At Texas on May 2, Zilisch won Stage 2 and led 48 laps before fading to 21st in the final segment after the car gave up whatever it had been giving him in the middle stages. He also was the third car in the Lap 105 three-wide moment with Kyle Larson and Brent Crews off Turn 4. At just 20 years old, Zilisch is already drawing comparisons to generational talents who made immediate impacts at the sport's highest level.
Background
A Charlotte-area native, Zilisch rose through karting and sports car racing before entering stock cars. His 11-win Xfinity season in 2025 was one of the most dominant campaigns by a driver under 20 in NASCAR history.
Related Pages
- Hickory Motor Speedway, Track Guide
- O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Guide
- JR Motorsports
- Driver Directory
Recent Race: Dover All-Star Race, May 17, 2026
Zilisch finished fifth in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, the only rookie inside the top five. The race was won by Denny Hamlin from the pole.
Recent Coverage
- Zilisch won the O'Reilly Series race at Watkins Glen (Race 13 of 2026), adding to his part-time JR Motorsports campaign.