Few NASCAR prospects have ever had the attract of Connor Zilisch.
As Zilisch prepares for his NASCAR Cup Collection debut in Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas, he enters the weekend with extra hype round him than any debutant over the past decade.
To an outsider, the eye surrounding the 18-year-old could appear odd and unwarranted. What might a young person have presumably completed to obtain a NASCAR Collection seat, not to mention be billed as one of many brightest prospects in NASCAR historical past?
Let’s hold it easy to start out: in his comparatively quick stock-car tenure, Zilisch had set the world on hearth. In his NASCAR Xfinity Collection debut at Watkins Glen in September 2024, Zilisch didn’t simply win the race — he gave the sector an intensive beatdown.
Six months prior, Zilisch didn’t simply win the pole for his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Collection debut at Circuit of the Americas, he set a brand new Truck Collection observe document. Whereas Zilisch made a mistake within the first nook of his Truck Collection debut that relegated him to the again of the sector, his subsequent cost via the pack was an unimaginable sight to see. When the Texas mud settled, Zilisch completed fourth, a mark many drivers might solely dream of reaching of their debut.
Zilisch’s NASCAR accolades could be sufficient for followers’ hype to be validated. However Zilisch boasts a formidable portfolio exterior of NASCAR, which incorporates victories within the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
So sure, you possibly can say that NASCAR followers and pundits alike have good purpose to current Zilisch as one of the electrifying younger drivers the game has ever seen.
Zilisch will make his Cup Collection debut with Trackhouse Racing within the No. 87 Chevrolet on Sunday. His automobile shall be adorned with the enduring colours of Purple Bull, a model that hasn’t been distinguished in NASCAR racing for almost a decade and a half.
It is smart that the corporate is selecting to turn out to be extra distinguished within the sport once more as Zilisch goes mainstream, together with fellow Trackhouse driver, and road-course specialist, Shane van Gisbergen.
Zilisch seemingly gained’t win his Cup Collection debut at COTA on Sunday, it’s a activity few drivers have ever pulled off, although the final driver to do it was van Gisbergen in Chicago in July 2023.
Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be shocking in any respect if Zilisch does combine it up with the leaders once in a while in Sunday’s race. He’s already confirmed to be extremely mature behind the wheel — a useful trait within the trenches of NASCAR.
Zilisch’s debut shall be one of the anticipated in NASCAR historical past, however followers needn’t fret about lacking it. In the event that they’re unable to be in entrance of a tv on Sunday afternoon, Zilisch is more likely to be a NASCAR staple for years to return, giving followers a myriad of alternatives to surveil the rise of one in every of NASCAR’s most fun prospects of current reminiscence.
