Connor Zilisch Heads to NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing in 2026
By David Morgan, Associate Editor
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s official, Connor Zilisch is headed to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 with Trackhouse Racing.
Trackhouse founder and co-owner Justin Marks made the announcement on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway that the 19-year-old will be joining the team’s three-car stable next season, joining Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen in a multi-year deal.
While making it to the Cup Series had been a dream for Zilisch, he explained that there were moments in which he didn’t think he would make it and would just be a regular college kid instead.
“I was sitting in the Dick’s parking lot across the street earlier today and just kind of reflecting on the last 15 years of my life and what’s led to this moment and got me this point and I never thought I would make it anywhere in racing,” Zilisch said as he started to get emotional.
“My parents have been behind me since day one and through every moment. The good, the bad. There were many times I questioned why I left school, left my friends to make this commitment to go to the Cup Series and try and chase a dream of racing in motorsports. And I never knew what was ahead of me.
“There were times five years ago where I thought I was just going to go to college and live the life of a normal kid. And Kevin Harvick asked my dad, what’s your plan with this kid? And my dad was like, well, he is going to race for another year or two and then he is going to go to college. And Kevin told my dad, he’s like, you can’t do that. So, first of all, thank you to Kevin. There’s a lot of people that have been a part of this journey with me.
“I have way too many people to thank. JR Motorsports, first of all for giving me this opportunity this year to race with them. Dale, Kelley, you guys have given me a great home for the last six to 12 months and I’m very grateful for that…So yeah, today is a really, really special day for me. I never thought this day would come. And yeah, it certainly feels good.”
After catching the attention of the powers that be at Trackhouse as he worked his way up the ranks, Zilisch has won at nearly every level he has raced in, including victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, along with wins in ARCA and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and in Trans Am.
In 2025, Zilisch moved to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full-time, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in partnership with Trackhouse, a season that has been a breakout year for the hotshoe, winning eight times total for the team – seven times in 2025 and once in his debut at Watkins Glen in 2024.
“Connor is a rare talent that comes along every few decades,” said Marks.
“I have watched Connor grow from a kid racing go-karts at the Trackhouse Motorplex to an up-close seat as he beat all of us in the Trans Am races a few years ago. He quickly adapted to everything we have put him in, and what he is doing with JR Motorsports in Xfinity this season is historic. Connor is very mature, poised, and I know ready for Cup racing in 2026.
“He’s been mentored along the way by former racer Josh Wise and Dr. Eric Warren at General Motors. I can speak for everyone at Trackhouse Racing when I say we have a tremendous amount of faith in this young man.”
Zilisch currently leads the Xfinity Series regular season points standings and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon as he will look to add more wins and a championship to his resume before moving up to the Cup Series next season.
JR Motorsports co-owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had nothing but high praise for Zilisch after getting to work with him closely in the Xfinity Series this season.
“Honestly I think that kid has potential to do incredible Hall of Fame worthy things and I am glad he is driving our car,” Earnhardt said after Zilisch won the Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis. “I’m glad that JR Motorsports and all the folks that are working there are forever be woven into the fabric of his story and he’s woven into the fabric of ours. I think that’s really neat.”
Earnhardt likened the path that Zilisch is on to that of multi-time Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, who came into the sport from different backgrounds and set the sport on fire upon arrival.
“The only thing I think it’s close to is probably Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson,” said Earnhardt. “So, he might be even more of a comet, sort of a rare, he might be even more rare than that because I don’t know man, if you all get a chance to spend time around him, you’ll realize how mature he is and I think there’s probably a lot of parents in the room that would be amazed at his level of maturity at 18 years old.”
“…There’s something that has positioned him in such a way that’s very unique in terms of his maturity and his ability to understand the moment to make the mature decision. Now he makes mistakes and we’ve seen him do that. But I mean when it comes down to it, it’s pretty impressive to see him see him work and I just feel like we’re on the front end.
“We’re all on the front end of witnessing this really incredible career. So, it’s almost whatever he wants to do.”
