To say there is excitement surrounding Connor Zilisch would be an understatement. Regarded as one of the top prospects in NASCAR, he carries the weight of immense expectations. These expectations aren’t without reason—Zilisch has repeatedly demonstrated why he’s a name to watch.
At just 18 years old, he has already secured class victories in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring—both on his first attempt. His NASCAR career is off to an impressive start as well, claiming pole position in his 2024 Truck debut at COTA and his 2024 Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen, where he ultimately won in his first-ever NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
This weekend at COTA has only added to his growing reputation. He was third-fastest in Cup Series practice and qualified 14th for his debut race. In the Xfinity Series, he overcame a mid-race penalty that sent him to the rear of the field to win from pole position.
Now, COTA serves as the launching pad for his NASCAR Cup Series career. He’ll be driving a fourth entry for Trackhouse Racing with Red Bull sponsorship—the first time Red Bull has been a primary sponsor in NASCAR in over 13 years. Given the brand’s history of backing young talent, their support only reinforces Zilisch’s rising star status.
“I’m Really Bad with Nerves”
Offering a candid look into his mindset, Zilisch admitted that nerves can be a major obstacle for him if he doesn’t stay composed.
“If you get too excited in the moment and hype yourself up too much, that’s when nerves start to become a thing, and I’m really bad with nerves,” he acknowledged. “When I’m nervous and amped up, I just don’t perform. I struggle.”
His Xfinity win at COTA showcased both his talent and his humanity—he made mistakes under pressure. On a late-race restart, he overshot Turn 1 while battling for the lead, costing both himself and his teammate. Later, he made contact with Corey Heim, damaging his own car in an aggressive dive-bomb move.
Owning Up to Mistakes
Despite winning the race, Zilisch was quick to take responsibility for his errors. Stepping out of the car, he admitted he “didn’t drive a clean race at all,” and apologized to the drivers he had tangled with. Even with the trophy in hand, his mistakes weighed on him.
“I’ve already texted three people that I feel like I did wrong,” he revealed in the post-race press conference. “That penalty messed with my head a little and put us in a tough spot. But coming back from that was great. I just need to stay calmer going forward.”
Zilisch compared the experience to last year’s COTA Truck race, where he started on pole but blew the first corner on Lap 1. Although he recovered to finish fourth, it was a messy race—one he doesn’t want to repeat as he heads into his Cup debut at the same track.
Gaining Respect and Avoiding the Hype
Zilisch understands that earning the respect of veteran drivers is crucial.
“It’s really important to gain respect from those guys as early as possible,” he said. “Once you lose the respect of the veterans, it’s really tough to get it back. You want to race them the right way, show them respect, and they’ll give it back to you.”
His goal is to race clean and within his limits, though he acknowledged how difficult that can be with the pressure he’s under.
“It’s a lot tougher than people realize, but the goal is to show those guys that I’m here to race respectfully and not step outside my boundaries.”
Keeping a Level Head
Zilisch is also focused on treating every race with the same mindset, regardless of the stage.
“The biggest thing for me is to not let any moment feel too big,” he explained. “I try to treat every race the same, whether it’s a Cup race or a local late model race.”
He admitted that overthinking the magnitude of a moment can lead to mistakes.
“It’s easy to psych yourself out thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this is such a big stage.’ It’s better to just treat it like another race. If I get caught up in the hype, I tend to make more mistakes.”
That’s easier said than done, especially with the increased attention on him following his Xfinity win. However, Zilisch is determined not to let external pressure affect his approach.
“You can’t let outside noise impact how you prepare, compete, or think,” he said. “You have to show up, understand that there’s going to be a lot of noise and bright lights, and just let it roll off. It’s just another race.”
Fortunately, he has three experienced Trackhouse teammates to lean on. All of them have won on road and street courses, and all qualified inside the top ten for the Cup race. If Zilisch can manage his nerves and avoid unnecessary mistakes, his No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet could find itself near the front by the race’s end.
And while it may seem far-fetched, a Cup victory in his debut isn’t entirely impossible. If he were to pull it off, it would be only the second time in 60 years that a driver has won their first-ever Cup Series race—ironically, the last driver to do so was his Trackhouse teammate Shane van Gisbergen in 2023 at the Chicago Street Course.
A win would also make Zilisch the youngest winner in Cup Series history. Given Trackhouse’s recent history of making headlines—including Ross Chastain’s 2022 wall ride, Daniel Suárez’s dramatic three-wide finish last year, and van Gisbergen’s Chicago triumph—there’s no doubt they’d love to add another historic moment to their legacy.
