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

The future of motorsports looks bright with the arrival of Connor Zilisch to the NASCAR 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. Hailing from North Carolina, this young driver, barely 18 years old, already boasts an impressive resume that includes the backing of Red Bull. His innate talent, combined with a charismatic personality, has led him to achieve victories in both the United States and Europe, breaking records along the way. Trackhouse Racing, the team that introduced him to NASCAR in 2024, will be in charge of taking Zilisch 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 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 is great at this level. Everyone is fantastic.

Joey Logano

Logano, three-time Cup Series champion, warns about the importance of humility and constant learning in this new stage. Zilisch will have to face the challenge of competing with the best drivers in the country. The transition from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series represents a significant leap. The demands are greater, and mistakes are costly.

Zilisch, who started competing at 5 years old, has proven his worth in various motorsport disciplines. His time in karting, where he won the FIA Karting Academy Trophy, and his subsequent success in categories such as the Mazda MX-5 Cup, sport cars and the Xfinity Series, are a testament to his talent and versatility. In his three Cup Series starts in 2025, Zilisch experienced firsthand the learning curve and the adaptation time required. He is aware that he will make mistakes and that the competition is relentless.

There are no concessions, whether you’re fighting for the win, for a top 10, or for 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 room for maneuver like in Xfinity. In Xfinity, you get to the top five and it gets harder, but from tenth place onwards, especially 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 ruthless.

Connor Zilisch

Zilisch joins a list of young prospects who have arrived in the Cup Series with high expectations. Time will tell if he manages to consolidate and achieve success in NASCAR’s premier category.