The Connor Zilisch Era Starts Now

By Dennis Krause

Last season, Connor Zilisch won ten races in what is now known as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for JR Motorsports.

Sunday, the 19-year-old rookie will make his NASCAR Cup Series and Daytona 500 debut behind the wheel of Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro.

During Wednesday’s media day sessions, Zilisch said he was excited and bringing a positive attitude to talking with reporters, and for the entire race weekend.

“Yeah, I'm so excited. I think the biggest thing for me coming into this weekend is just try and make the most of the weekend, obviously, and do everything I can on the track. But more importantly, just enjoy the experience and have fun no matter what happens.

“There's a lot of things that can happen out of your control here,” Zilisch noted. “And I think for me, I'm just most excited to enjoy it all, whether it's media day today. Usually I dread these things, but I came in with a positive mindset today that I'm going to have fun and I'm going to enjoy it, and I think that goes for the entire weekend.”

Needless to say, many people have high expectations of Zilisch as he steps up to the Cup Series, one that Zilisch cautions is a really big step in his career.

“Yeah, I appreciate the excitement. You know, I think it's really cool that there's a lot of people excited to watch how I'm going to do this season, whether it's fans or media. I do think it sometimes gets a little outlandish… a lot of people maybe expecting a lot of me in my first year. I don't think people realize how big of a jump it is from Saturday to Sunday. But I try not to pay too much attention to it. I know what my personal goals are throughout the year. I know what I want to accomplish and my long-term goals. I find it cool most mostly.”

If anyone understands Zilsch’s quick rise to the Cup Series and what he’s experiencing, it’s Team Penske driver Joey Logano.

“I get it. I think he’s gonna be fine,” said the 3-time series and 2015 Daytona 500 champion. “I really think he’s gonna run pretty well. I’m sure he’s gonna have quite the learning curve just racing around us and the way that we do things. I’ve watched him and it seems like he’s great. He seems like a good person from what I know. I haven’t really talked to him that much, but he seems like a good kid. I’m sure the second half of the year he’s gonna be quite a bit stronger than the first half of the year is my assumption, just because he’ll see things for the second time. I think he’ll be fine and he’ll pick right up on it.

“I think these cars are more like sports cars. It was a little different. When I first started the cars were really, really unique and just much different to drive than what we have now. These are very similar to what a sports car is, which I’m sure he’s probably a little bit more used to that. He did well in the Xfinity cars and figured that out, too, so he’ll be fine.”

Logano, too, was highly touted when he rose through the ranks, debuting in the Cup Series at age 18 with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008. But it didn’t go smoothly.

“He’s coming in at a different day and age than when I did,” said Logano. “To be honest with you, I came in kind of brash and a little bit arrogant. I got in some scuffles here and there that, to this day, still follow me. Fans don’t forget. They remember who you were when you were 19 and now that you’re 35 it’s like, yeah, everybody is a little different from when you were 19 years old, I would assume. I hope so at least, and so am I, but I think once you set that first impression to the fan that’s what it is forever, unfortunately. I’ve learned that one the hard way.

“And I don’t even know if I would have done anything different because I didn’t know. I didn’t even know how to act. You’re 19 years old. You do stupid stuff. You say stupid things. How do you know? You learn the hard way and learn in front of everyone and everyone’s got good memories these days because they’ve got You Tube.”

Already in his brief career, Zilisch has shown the ability to drive, and win, in anything he has held the steering wheel, whether it was karting, Mazda MX-5 and TransAm, IMSA or stock cars. In 2024, Zilisch served notice of his talent by winning the Rolex 24 and Sebring 12 Hours in IMSA’s LMP2 class in his first attempts. Three weeks ago, Zilisch and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac team finished runner-up overall at the Rolex 24.

“I think it's just adaptability,” Zilisch explained. “Growing up, I raced so many different kinds of cars and got to do so many different races. I just experienced a lot at a young age, and I was forced to challenge myself. I learned to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and I think that's kind of why I never feel like I’m going into a new thing. I never get stressed. I always say, man, I've been in these shoes before and I'm going to go out and figure it out.”

As far as being compared to NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, Zilisch says it’s hard to comprehend.

“I think it's – I don't know why yet, right? I've run, obviously, a lot of races in the lower levels. But, you know, to be compared to Jeff Gordon, I feel like you've got to do something at this level and I've yet to do that. I haven't had the opportunity to do that. That starts this year, and I'm hoping to make a name for myself. It's certainly going to take time to get to the level of a guy like him.”

While Zilisch has one shot at becoming the youngest driver to win the Daytona 500, what would make him smile at the end of the race on Sunday night after starting 32nd?

“I think if I could just make it to the end -- I think a top-10, I'd be happy about. You know, I'm not saying if I finished 11th, I'd be mad. But I think I have low expectations for myself. I don't expect to go out and win my first race. It'd be really cool to do that. Obviously, we show up to the track every week with the goal to win, but I don't expect myself to. So I think, you know, making it to the end -- as long as I can say I did everything I could and I made the right moves, I think that's what I'd be satisfied with.”

Dennis Krause has spent decades covering all forms of motorsports, including over 40 Indianapolis 500s, with stints at WIBA Radio, PIT PASS - Radio’s Premier Motorsports Magazine and Motorsports Minute. Follow him on X @DennisKrause500 or motorsportsminute.bluesky.social or motorsportsminute on Threads or MotorsportsMinute+ on Facebook.

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