Connor Zilisch: The key to success in NASCAR is learning how to lose

The future of motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series looks bright with the arrival of Connor Zilisch in 2026. This young driver, after a historic season in the Xfinity Series, where he conquered the regular season championship with 10 victories, is preparing for a new challenge. Zilisch, with his innate talent and a captivating personality, has proven his worth in various motorsport categories, from karting to endurance races in Europe and the United States. His meteoric rise has made him a promising figure, attracting the attention of high-level teams and sponsors.

The Road to the Cup Series

The Trackhouse Racing team, which trusted Zilisch in 2024, will integrate him into the No. 88 Chevrolet backed by Red Bull and WeatherTech. However, the transition to the Cup Series will not be easy. Experienced drivers like Joey Logano warn about the demands of this level of competition, where humility and adaptation are key to success.

I think he’s better than I was at that age, and he seems to be more mature than I was at that age. It’s easy for an 18 or 19-year-old to drink the Kool-Aid. He’s a great driver, no doubt. He won a lot of Xfinity races. Cup racing is different. Everyone is great at this level. Everyone is fantastic.

Joey Logano

The story of drivers like Logano and Kyle Busch serves as an example of the challenges that young talents face when arriving in the Cup Series. The pressure, fierce competition, and the need to adapt quickly are factors that can influence a driver’s performance.

Zilisch, aware of these challenges, recognizes the magnitude of the jump from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series. In his first participations in the Cup Series in 2025, the driver has understood the learning curve and the minimal margin of error that this category demands. The intensity of the competition and the lack of concessions are aspects that stand out in his analysis.

No breaks are given, whether you’re competing for the win, for being in the top 10, or in 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 place onwards, especially when you’re in such a good car, people understand that you’re not going to be able to hold someone off for long. But in the Cup, it’s relentless. Those guys compete for every position as if it were the last lap of their lives.

Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch’s future in the NASCAR Cup Series is promising, but time will tell how quickly he adapts to the demands of the category. Experience, learning, and the ability to overcome challenges will be fundamental to his success.