Connor Zilisch: The Key to Success in NASCAR, Learning 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 conquering the regular season championship in the Xfinity Series, is preparing to make the jump to the top category. Zilisch, a native of North Carolina and nearly six feet tall, has built his reputation with an impressive resume. At 18 years old, he was already a Red Bull athlete, showing innate talent and a captivating personality. His meteoric rise has led him to win races in the United States and Europe, breaking records along the way. Trackhouse Racing, which gave him the opportunity to debut in NASCAR in 2024, will put him behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet next year, with the backing of Red Bull and WeatherTech.

I think he’s better than I was at his age, and he seems to be more mature. It’s easy to get carried away at 18 or 19 years old. He’s a great driver, no doubt. He won a lot of Xfinity races. Cup races are different. Everyone is great at this level. Everyone is fantastic.

Joey Logano

Experienced driver Joey Logano, three-time Cup Series champion, highlights the importance of humility for Zilisch in his new stage. Logano recalls his own beginnings and how demanding the competition in the Cup Series can be a challenge. The trajectory of other drivers like Kyle Busch also serves as an example. Busch, who came to the Cup Series with high expectations, understood the magnitude of the challenge. The transition from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series is a considerable leap, where the competition is fierce.

Busch warns Zilisch about the realities of the Cup Series, pointing out that adaptation is crucial. The experience of Ty Gibbs, who dominated the Xfinity Series before facing difficulties in the Cup Series, illustrates this point. The lack of contact with Cup Series drivers in previous categories can make the transition difficult. Zilisch, with a decade of karting experience and victories in various disciplines, including the 24 Hours of Daytona and his debut in the Xfinity Series, has proven his worth. In his three Cup Series participations in 2025, Zilisch has experienced firsthand the learning curve and the demands of the category. He is aware that mistakes are inevitable and that the competition is relentless.

No quarter is given, whether you’re fighting for victory, for a top 10 finish, 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 into the top five and it gets harder, but from tenth, especially with 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 acknowledges the magnitude of the jump from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series. Zilisch’s adaptation to the premier category will be a process that will take time, but the talent and determination are present. NASCAR history has shown that the path to success in the Cup Series is different for each driver. Zilisch shares what his friends, Zane Smith and Noah Gragson, told him: “Wait until you’re fighting for a lucky dog or in 25th place and be happy to have finished in the top 20.”