The next big NASCAR promise, Connor Zilisch, joins the Cup series starting in 2026. After a historic season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he achieved 10 victories and the regular season championship, Zilisch makes the leap to the premier category with Trackhouse Racing and the support of Red Bull and WeatherTech.
Zilisch, standing just under six feet tall and with a captivating personality, has demonstrated his talent in various competitions in the United States and Europe. His meteoric rise has caught the attention of prominent figures in the world of motorsports, including three-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano.
I think he’s better than I was at his age, and he seems to be more mature than I was at his age.
Joey Logano
Logano, who was also considered the “next big thing” in his time, warns Zilisch about the importance of humility and constant learning in the Cup Series, where the competition is fierce and the margin for error is minimal.
The story of Kyle Busch, another driver who arrived in the Cup Series with high expectations, serves as a reminder of the challenges Zilisch will face. Busch, a two-time champion, recognizes the difficulty of the transition and the adjustment needed to compete at the highest level.Busch, like other drivers, points out that the step from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series is huge, and that young drivers often face a harsh reality. Busch himself highlights the importance of competing against Cup Series drivers before reaching that level.
Zilisch, with a career that began at the age of 5, has proven his worth in various motorsport disciplines, including karting, where he won the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. His talent caught the attention of Kevin Harvick, who guided him and conveyed the importance of continuing to compete.
Zilisch, in his three Cup Series participations in 2025, has experienced firsthand the learning curve and the time it will take him to adapt. He acknowledges that he will make mistakes, that the margin for error is minimal, and that he will have bad days.
In the Cup Series, it’s ruthless. Those guys compete for every position as if it were the last lap of their lives.
Connor Zilisch
Zilisch is aware of the difference between the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, and the difficulty of each race. Despite his talent and potential, time will tell how quickly Zilisch adapts to the demanding world of the Cup Series.
