Connor Zilisch: The Key to Succeeding in NASCAR, Learning to Lose

The future of NASCAR looks bright with the arrival of Connor Zilisch to the Cup series starting in 2026. After an outstanding season in the Xfinity Series, where he was crowned regular season champion with ten victories, Zilisch is preparing to make the leap to the top category of American motorsports. With a height close to six feet and a captivating personality, Zilisch has demonstrated exceptional talent from an early age. At 18 years old, he already had the support of Red Bull and has achieved victories in both the United States and Europe, breaking records along the way. Trackhouse Racing, the team that gave Zilisch the opportunity in NASCAR in 2024, will be in charge of taking the young driver in the Chevrolet No. 88, with the support of Red Bull and WeatherTech as its main sponsors.

I think he’s better than I was at that age, and he seems more mature than I was at that age.

Joey Logano, Cup Series Champion

Veteran Joey Logano, a three-time Cup Series champion, warns about the importance of maintaining humility and focus on the path to success. Logano, who was also considered a “next big thing” at one point, knows that the transition to the Cup Series is a challenge that requires adaptation and perseverance. Kyle Busch, another driver who came to the Cup Series with high expectations, is another example of what Zilisch could face. Busch emphasizes that the jump from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series is huge and that young drivers are often surprised by the level of competition. Zilisch, who started competing at 5 years old and spent a decade in karting, where he won the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, has proven his worth in various motorsport disciplines. His talent caught the attention of Kevin Harvick, who guided him and advised him to dedicate himself entirely to racing. In his three Cup Series starts in 2025, Zilisch experienced firsthand the learning curve and the time it will take him to adapt. He is aware that he will make mistakes and that the margin for error is minimal.

In the Cup Series, everyone fights for every position as if it were the last lap of their lives.

Connor Zilisch

Zilisch acknowledges that the Cup Series is relentless and that the transition from the Xfinity Series is a big jump. The driver has shown that he deserves to be in the Cup Series, but like many before him, time will tell how quickly he adapts to the high competition.

Zilisch has been warned by other drivers about the difficulty of the Cup Series, where each competitor is a champion or a winner at some point in their career. The young driver will have to learn to deal with defeats and stay focused on his goal of achieving success in the top NASCAR category.