The future of NASCAR looks bright with the arrival of Connor Zilisch to the Cup Series in 2026. After a historic season in the Xfinity Series, where he was crowned regular season champion, Zilisch is preparing to make the jump to the top category of American motorsport.
This young pilot, originally from North Carolina and barely 1.80 meters tall, has demonstrated exceptional talent from an early age. At 18 years old, he was already a Red Bull athlete, accumulating victories in the United States and Europe, breaking records along the way.
Trackhouse Racing, the team that gave Zilisch a chance in NASCAR in 2024, will include him in the Chevrolet No. 88 next year, with the support of Red Bull and WeatherTech as its main sponsors.
I think he’s better than I was at his age, and he seems to be more mature. It’s easy, at 18 or 19, to drink the Kool-Aid. He’s a great driver, no doubt. He won a lot of Xfinity races. Cup racing is different. Everyone’s great at this level. Everyone’s fantastic.
Joey Logano
Joey Logano, three-time Cup Series champion, shares his perspective on the challenge Zilisch faces. Logano, who was also considered the “Next Big Thing” at one point, warns about the importance of humility and constant learning.
The stories of Logano and Kyle Busch serve as examples of what Zilisch can expect. Both drivers arrived in the Cup Series with high expectations, but the fierce competition of the category demands adaptation and perseverance.Kyle Busch emphasizes the magnitude of the jump from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series. The demand is such that even dominant drivers in lower categories may face difficulties adapting to the level of competition.
Zilisch, who started competing at 5 years old and spent a decade in karting, has an impressive track record. He won the FIA Karting Academy Trophy and competed in Europe. His talent caught the attention of Kevin Harvick, who guided him and conveyed the importance of following his passion for racing.
The young driver has proven his worth in various motorsport disciplines, including the Mazda MX-5 Cup, sports car racing, and stock cars. His victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, along with his successful debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, are a testament to his skill.
Zilisch has had three Cup Series participations in 2025, where he learned firsthand the learning curve and the time it will take him to adapt. He is aware that he will make mistakes, that the margin for error is minimal, and that he will face difficult days.
No quarter is given, whether you’re competing for the win, the top 10, or 32nd place. It doesn’t matter; everyone is there to be in the best possible position, and everyone gets paid to finish as well as possible. There’s no slack like in Xfinity. In Xfinity, you get to the top five and it gets harder, but from tenth on back, especially being in such a good car, people understand that you’re not going to be able to hold someone up for long. But in Cup, it’s ruthless. Those guys race for every position as if it were the last lap of their lives.
Connor Zilisch
Zilisch has proven himself worthy of the Cup Series, but time will tell how quickly he adapts to the high competition. Logano’s experience and Busch’s initial speed are examples of the possible paths Zilisch could take.
Zilisch’s path in the Cup Series promises to be exciting, and fans eagerly await to see his evolution in the top category of motorsports.
