NASCAR: 18-year-old phenom lands full-time promotion for 2025

NASCAR: 18-year-old phenom lands full-time promotion for 2025

As an avid motorsport enthusiast with decades of experience under my belt, let me tell you, I am thrilled to my very core about the promising career of Connor Zilisch! This kid is a force to be reckoned with, and Trackhouse Racing Team has just hit the jackpot by signing him to a multi-year deal.


It’s clear that Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing Team made an informed decision when they agreed on a multi-year contract with Connor Zilisch, the victor of Rolex 24 at Daytona, in preparation for the 2024 NASCAR season.

Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, this youngster recently celebrated his 18th birthday in late July. Already boasting an impressive racing resume, he made his NASCAR national series debut at Circuit of the Americas in March, where he finished an outstanding fourth place for Spire Motorsports in the Truck Series race. Remarkably, he had qualified on pole position before the race.

In his first 7 races with ARCA, he has secured 4 wins and additional podium finishes of second, third, and fourth. This results in an impressive average finish of approximately 1.86. Next month, he’s all set to make his Xfinity Series debut with JR Motorsports at Watkins Glen International. On September 14, you can catch him racing the No. 88 Chevrolet on Saturday.

Moreover, apart from that event, he will race with the team at Kansas Speedway this coming Saturday, September 28th; Homestead-Miami Speedway on the 26th of October (Saturday); and Phoenix Raceway to conclude the season on November 9th (Saturday).

Prior to his Xfinity Series race debut, it was officially announced on Wednesday that he had already secured a full-time position with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team for the upcoming season.

Connor Zilisch joins JR Motorsports full-time

With a move to the Xfinity Series being his immediate goal, it seems almost certain that Zilisch will eventually advance to the Cup Series. Currently, he stands at the peak of opportunity to demonstrate his readiness for this next significant leap in his racing career.

He has won multiple Late Model races and even several sports car events other than the Rolex 24, all before turning 18, and now he has landed an opportunity to compete for Xfinity Series wins.

The racing team known as Trackhouse, co-owned by Marks and Pitbull, at present fields two full-time drivers, Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez. However, there are plans underway for an expansion to a fleet of three cars in the coming year.

Shane van Gisbergen, who’s currently signed with our team, is racing full-time for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series. It’s widely speculated that he could join Trackhouse Racing Team as a full-time driver in their Cup Series next year.

Last year, van Gisbergen competed for our PROJECT91 team in the bustling streets of Chicago, marking his debut win in the Cup Series – a feat not achieved by any other driver since 1963.

As a lifelong racing enthusiast who has followed Zane Smith’s career closely, I must say that his loan to Spire Motorsports was a smart move for both parties. It allowed him to gain valuable experience and exposure in a competitive environment while still being under contract with the Trackhouse Racing Team. However, his uncertain future with the team next year is concerning, as he has shown great potential and could be a key asset for them. I hope that they find a way to keep Smith on their roster and continue to nurture his talent. It would be a shame for such a promising driver to leave the Trackhouse Racing Team without fully realizing his potential within their organization.

As a gaming enthusiast putting my virtual racing skills to the test, it’s clear that Trackhouse Racing Team is sitting on a goldmine of talent, ready to shape their upcoming driver rosters. It seems like the most promising young racer among them has just secured a competitive spot in the series right under NASCAR’s elite!

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2024-08-09 15:02

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