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Connor Zilisch is competing the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year with Trackhouse Racing.
Connor Zilisch may be NASCAR’s most-coveted prospect in decades. The teenage phenom, who competes for Trackhouse Racing, is among the buzz of the NASCAR garage on a weekly basis.
“It’s been an up and down first few races,” Zilisch said of the start to his rookie campaign. “We’ve had flashes of potential, and we definitely feel like our Trackhouse racecars are fast. I’m managing expectations and I’m showing up and trying to learn as much as possible and be better each lap. If I can get a little bit better each lap and grow as the race goes on, then that’s what’s important.”
Zilisch joined Trackhouse Racing after a sensational season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with JR Motorsports. In a season that included injuring his back while racing for the victory in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch won 10 races. He went scorched earth during the summer, tallying a series record 18 consecutive top-five finishes. Not only did he suffer the back injury that sat him out a week, but he also fell off the door of his car while celebrating a win at Watkins Glen International, breaking his collarbone.
But Zilisch’s resilience came through, and he did not allow the injuries to ruin his title hunt. He ended the year second in the standings, finishing just shy of champion – and close ally – Jesse Love.
Now, Zilisch is piloting Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 car, garnering national attention after just a handful of starts with major sponsors like Red Bull and Jockey.
“The biggest difference is the drivers,” Zilisch said of adjusting to the Cup Series. “The level of talent is higher than anything I’ve ever raced in my entire life. How to be competitive at the highest level is the biggest thing to me.”
Last year, Zilisch made his Cup debut with Trackhouse at Circuit of The Americas as an 18-year-old. He was competitive, but a mid-race slip from then-teammate Daniel Suarez cost the upstart a solid finishing position. He joined the team in a fourth Trackhouse entry, a move that prepared him to accompany Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen in 2026. He ran two additional races in 2025, with a best finish of 11th at EchoPark Speedway.
Aside from van Gisbergen’s five road course wins in 2025, Trackhouse struggled. Chastain won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway by passing a dominant William Byron, but Trackhouse lacked the overall pace it had in years prior. Suarez, who departed the team for Spire Motorsports, only had two top fives and seven top 10s. Trackhouse made major changes over the past year, and the three-car organization has high expectations.
Connor Zilisch’s Rapid Ascent In NASCAR
Zilisch climbed to the top of the NASCAR ladder at a rapid pace. Deemed as not only a future star, the 19-year-old is seemingly always calm, cool and collected. No moment is too big.
Justin Marks, Trackhouse’s founder, originally signed Zilisch in 2024. At the time, the 17-year-old was already winning in Trans Am and karting, but had little stock-car racing experience. In less than two years, he is already competing in the NASCAR Cup Series full time.
“The Trackhouse team has been great for me, and it’s a great home for me to be in. I’ve been with this team for two-and-a-half years, and it’s not like I was coming to a new building. I’m super grateful for Justin and his belief in me.”
As part of Zilisch’s developmental program, Trackhouse got him some reps in the Craftsman Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024. He won in his first start with JR Motorsports, leading half the race at Watkins Glen en route to the victory.
Through a partnership with Trackhouse, JR Motorsports signed Zilisch for a full-season slate in 2025. He sat a respectable sixth in the standings before his injury. But from Charlotte in May through the end of the year, his performance increased dramatically, all the while Suarez struggled in the Cup Series with the No. 99 team, which led to Zilisch’s promotion.
Zilisch is in a complicated life situation, in which he still wants to live his life like every other 19-year-old while also recognizing his potential. He doesn’t want to be the next major “what-if” name.
“I have to be a professional athlete with major sponsors,” he said. “I’ve had to learn quickly and on the fly.”
High Expectations And Major Partners For Zilisch
All eyes are on Zilisch now. He is expected to compete towards the front, all while learning in the most competitive form of auto racing.
This weekend, his repertoire of high-profile sponsors will grow once again. He will be representing Jockey in a special gold livery at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the brand’s 150th anniversary.
HeavyConnor Zilisch will compete in a special Jockey 150th anniversary paint scheme at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Credit: Trackhouse Racing)
“This week, we have Jockey on the car, a family-owned business that’s been around for 150 years and wants to support Trackhouse and us drivers,” Zilisch said. “I love wearing my Jockey clothes and underwear. The support they’ve shown the team is awesome. It means a lot to all of us. I’m excited to help them celebrate 150 years of the company this weekend in Vegas with our gold racecar.”
Besides Jockey, Red Bull has returned to NASCAR after a decade-long hiatus to work with Zilisch and van Gisbergen. The energy drink company is sponsoring the pairing for 25 races throughout the 2026 season. The unexpected comeback with a fresh face led to plenty of hoopla for the teenager, whose stock has now soared, as he was named a Red Bull athlete ahead of his O’Reilly debut in 2024.
“We don’t take this opportunity for granted,” Zilisch said. “We’re excited to continue to grow this partnership.”
Though the pressure is on Zilisch’s shoulders, he is handling the noise quite well. He’s trying to live in the moment and have fun, soaking in the major opportunity he has in front of him.
“My biggest goal and my expectation is that I expect to be a better racecar driver at the end of the year than I am today,” Zilisch said.
Through his first month of being a Cup driver, the No. 88 team ranks 34th in the regular-season championship standings.