NASCAR superspeedway racing is often characterized as a style of racing where luck is the defining element.
And while luck, whether it be regarding choosing the right lane or avoiding wrecks, is more prevalent at drafting tracks than others, NASCAR Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch says there’s still a craft to racing at Daytona and Talladega.
“I enjoy the craft of superspeedway racing,” Zilisch said in a Friday interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “It’s tougher than people realize. It certainly is a skill. You can say it’s luck and [that] you continue to get unlucky, but at some point it becomes a driver doing their job and putting themselves in the right spots to win races and stay out of trouble.”
Zilisch, who will make his first Daytona 500 start on Feb. 15, admitted that he hasn’t yet completely figured out superspeedway racing. It was at Talladega in April 2025 that, while racing for the win on the last lap, Zilisch crashed and injured his back.
But there are reasons for optimism as Zilisch prepares for his debut in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. He finished 11th at EchoPark Speedway in June 2025 and technically won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona in August 2025 after starting the race and being relieved by Parker Kligerman.
What the draft is like
The draft is the great equalizer at Daytona, Talladega and EchoPark Speedway, keeping cars together in big packs. It’s a unique form of racing that creates excitement for fans and tension for drivers.
“You’ll be going at a certain speed without the draft, and when you pick it up, it’s like the engine just picks up to a whole different pitch,” Zilisch said.
Zilisch will certainly need the help of his Trackhouse Racing teammates in Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain if he’s to find his way to the front of the field at Daytona and score the win in the ‘Great American Race.’
Quotes provided by SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.