This weekend at Circuit of the Americas, an array of great talents from around the world will grace the track. Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi, New Zealand supercar driver Shane van Gisbergen, and Timmy Hill will all be making appearances in the NASCAR Cup series race. Adding to the anticipation, another young talent in NASCAR is set to debut in a national series at just 17 years of age.
Young Talent Revs Up for National-Level Debut
Recently Jenna Fryer shared a post on X that read:
#NASCAR's next budding young star set for national series debut as teenage @ConnorZilisch to race Truck Series at COTA: https://t.co/fpXJ1orfQU
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) March 21, 2024
This Saturday, Zilisch will step onto the national stage in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). He’s slated to compete in various series this year, including the CARS Tour, ARCA, Trans-Am, IMSA, Trucks, and is expected to enter Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports once he turns 18 later this year.
With 37 race weekends scheduled across multiple series, Zilisch’s credentials are legitimate, and he’s eager to showcase his talents in NASCAR, where he’s only eligible to compete in anything higher than the Truck Series after he turns 18 in July.
The Unconventional Path of Connor Zilisch and the Future in NASCAR
Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, a city steeped in racing heritage, Zilisch initially followed a different trajectory. Karting was his passion, and European tracks were his playground. NASCAR? It wasn’t on his radar—until fate intervened.
Enter Kevin Harvick, a NASCAR driver with an eye for talent. When Harvick’s son, Keelan, became Zilisch’s karting teammate, destiny shifted gears. Kevin recognized the raw talent in the young racer and encouraged him to explore stock car racing.
Zilisch’s talent caught the attention of Trackhouse Racing, and they signed him to a multi-year development deal. Team owner Justin Marks sees something special in this young racer. They’ll take it slow, nurturing his potential for a long and successful career.
