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Connor Zilisch
American racing driver (born 2006) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Connor Jackson Zilisch (born July 22, 2006) is an American professional racing driver. He has been a development driver for Trackhouse Racing since 2024. Under that agreement, Zilisch competes in select races across multiple racing series, including the NASCAR Cup Series (for Trackhouse), the NASCAR Xfinity Series (for JR Motorsports), the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (for Niece Motorsports), the CARS Tour, the Trans-Am Series (both for Silver Hare Racing), the IMSA SportsCar Championship (for Trackhouse and TF Sport) and the Global MX-5 Cup. He is also a Red Bull athlete.
After an early career in karts, culminating in winning the Karting Academy Trophy in 2020, Zilisch began racing sports cars in 2021, adding stock cars to his program the next year. Zilisch broke onto the racing scene in 2024, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in his first attempts and winning in his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start in September at Watkins Glen International, less than two months after his 18th birthday.
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Racing career
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Early career
Karting
Zilisch started competing in go-kart at the age of five in 2011. He would spend 10 years racing karts before moving up to cars in 2021. Zilisch started primarily in the United States until 2017 when he won the Mini Rok World Championship in South Garda, Italy, competing against more than 160 other competitors from 33 different countries. He returned to Europe to race primarily in the FIA OKJ class in 2018–2020 and made the "A" final in the OKJ World Championship in both 2019 and 2020. In 2020 he also became the first ever American to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a three-race series where competitors from all over the world all race on identical equipment.[1]
Mazda MX-5 Global Cup and Trans-Am
Zilisch began racing cars in early 2021 with the Sports Car Club of America in the Spec Miata class and quickly began showing strong results, setting 3 track records and reaching the podium multiple times. At the SCCA Run-offs in Indianapolis that year, Zilisch finished third out of ~ 90 cars in the competitive Spec Miata class and shortly thereafter was named the SCCA Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year. Zilisch also competed in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout competition, in late 2021, winning the $110,000 scholarship which would fund his participation in the series in 2022. In late 2021, Zilisch also ran his first Trans Am TA2 race at Virginia International Raceway earning pole position while shattering the track record as a rookie driver. He led the race early until a mechanical issue forced him to retire early, however, his performance in the race led to his being invited to race TA2 full-time for Silver Hare Racing in 2022.
In the Mazda MX-5 Cup series, Zilisch recorded four wins in the season and nearly won the championship in the last race of the season at Road Atlanta. In that race, Zilisch needed to finish at least three spots ahead of Jared Thomas to win the $250K championship prize and on track he did that, finishing sixth to Thomas' ninth-place finish, however a post-race penalty to Alex Bachoura (who finished in between Zilisch and Thomas) ended up moving Thomas up one position and handing him the championship. Zilisch won $85K for second place and was also named the Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year for 2022.[2]
IMSA
On December 12, 2024, it was announced that Zilisch will drive a Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD Pro class in the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona alongside Shane van Gisbergen, Ben Keating and Scott McLaughlin in a joint partnership between Trackhouse Racing and TF Sport.[3]
Late models
Pro late models
In June 2022, Zilisch would make his Pro Late Model debut in the No. 4 for Setzer Racing and Development at Orange County Speedway with the Carolina Pro Late Model Series where he would win the pole, and led all the laps en route to his first career victory in an Asphalt Late Model overall and Pro Late Model.[4]
For 2023, Zilisch would return to the No. 25 for Rackley W.A.R. running select events in the CARS Pro Late Model Tour. He would win at Ace Speedway in his second start of the season, holding off Caden Kvapil to do so.[5]
Late model stock cars
In 2022, Zilisch began racing late-model cars to prepare him for a potential path to NASCAR. He would start to run Late Model Stock Cars in the No. 57 for Carroll Speedshop. He would score two wins on the year, both coming at Hickory Motor Speedway as well as two other podium positions.
For 2023, Zilisch would return to the No. 57 for Carroll Speedshop on a part-time basis in the CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour. At Hickory Motor Speedway during the Throwback 276, Zilisch would run a throwback to the No. 98 Dogecoin car driven in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014 by his current driver coach Josh Wise.
ARCA Menards Series
2023
On August 14, 2023, it was announced Zilisch would make his ARCA Menards Series debut in the No. 28 for Pinnacle Racing Group at that weekend's race at Watkins Glen.[6] Zilisch qualified second behind Corey LaJoie and then went on to dominate the race, leading 34 out of the race's 42 laps, and barely lost the race after getting moved in the final corner of the final lap from the lead by Jesse Love going on to still finish second despite an ill-handling car affected by a broken front sway bar.
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2024
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On March 18, 2024, it was announced that Zilisch would return to Pinnacle Racing Group to run a full season in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 28 car.[7] In his first start at Five Flags Speedway, he missed practice and qualifying due to being at Circuit of the Americas for the NASCAR Truck Series race, and was replaced by Luke Fenhaus.[8] Zilisch was able to make the race but struggled with mechanical issues throughout the event and finished fourth, two laps down. In his next race at Dover Motor Speedway, Zilisch took advantage of the leader's mishaps and led the final 42 laps of the event to earn his first career win in both the main and East Series.[9] At the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Zilisch qualified fourth and ran in the top three throughout the event, but did not have the car to beat the eventual race winner William Sawalich, he finished third behind Isabella Robusto. He rebounded the following race at Flat Rock Speedway, where he would go on to obliterate the competition, winning the pole and leading every lap of the race to earn his second career win.[10][11] He continued with a hot streak of victories, winning the next two East Series events at Iowa Speedway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, both in dominating fashion.[12][13] At Michigan, his first start on an intermediate racetrack, Zilisch passed Tanner Gray late in the event and held off a charging Andrés Pérez de Lara in the final laps to score another victory, continuing his winning streak of 4–4 in the ARCA Series.[14]
NASCAR
On January 11, 2024, Zilisch signed a multi-year contract with Trackhouse Racing as a developmental driver. His developmental program in 2024 and 2025 consists of races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as ARCA, CARS Tour, Trans-Am, and IMSA.[15]
Craftsman Truck Series
2024
On March 15, 2024, it was announced that Zilisch would run a three-race schedule for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 truck, including a race at Homestead–Miami Speedway in a coordinated entry fielded by Spire.[16] He made his debut at Circuit of the Americas, shocking the field after winning the pole in his first career start.[17] On the first lap, Zilisch locked up his brakes and ultimately missed the first corner, losing the lead and falling to the back.[18] He battled through many mid-race struggles, including penalties and spins. He would pass the most trucks throughout the entire race, and eventually made it back to the top five in the final stages. He was unable to catch the eventual winner Corey Heim and settled for a fourth-place finish in his series debut.[19] Following his performance, Spire added three more races to Zilisch's schedule, which includes Richmond, Bristol, and Martinsville.[20]
2025
On August 4, 2025, after it was announced that Kaden Honeycutt would be released from Niece Motorsports, it was announced that Zilisch would compete in the race at Watkins Glen for the team.
Xfinity Series
2024
On March 12, 2024, it was announced that Zilisch would run a four-race slate with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 88 car.[21] Following his 18th birthday on July 22, Zilisch will compete in the races at Watkins Glen, Kansas, Homestead–Miami, and the season finale at Phoenix.[22] At Watkins Glen, Zilisch won the pole, led the most laps, and saved enough fuel in two overtime restarts for the win in his Xfinity Series debut, becoming the first driver in over three years (Ty Gibbs at the 2021 Daytona RC race) to win in their Xfinity Series debut.[23]
2025
On August 7, 2024, it was announced on The Dale Jr. Download that Zilisch would drive the No. 88 car for JRM full-time in 2025.[24] Zilisch won his first race of the year at Circuit of the Americas.[25] At the Spring Talladega race, Zilisch was leading on the last lap when he got spun by Jesse Love and his car turned left and hit the inside wall. Zilisch was complaining about his back but fortunately, was able to walk out on his own power and was not badly injured as he was checked and released from the infield care center.[26][27] Kyle Larson substituted for him at Texas and won the race in double overtime.[28][29] Zilisch returned with back-to-back second place finishes at Charlotte and Nashville. Following the Nashville race, crew chief Mardy Lindley was suspended for one race for two unsecured lug nuts.[30] With Dale Earnhardt Jr. as his substitute crew chief, Zilisch scored his second win of the season at Pocono.[31] With two-laps to go in Chicago, teammate Shane van Gisbergen would push Zilisch into the wall to win.[32] The next week, Zilisch would beat van Gisbergen at Sonoma.[33] The following week, he won at Dover, after the race was shortened by 66 laps.[34] He also won the next weekend at Indianapolis, earning JRM their 100th-career victory in the series.[35] Two weeks later, he won at Watkins Glen after a late red flag delayed the race. Whilst celebrating in victory lane, Zilisch fell from his car. Safety members responded quickly and he was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. After evaluation, CT scans on Zilisch's head were clear, but he suffered a broken collarbone.[36]
Cup Series
2025
On January 23, 2025, it was announced that Zilisch would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No. 87 for Trackhouse with sponsorship from Red Bull.[37] Zilisch would crash into his teammate Daniel Suarez while trying to avoid the spinning latter. As a result, Zilisch would DNF in his debut. It was later announced that he would compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, where he finished 23rd after getting caught up in a three-car wreck on lap 113.[38] On June 4, it was announced that Zilisch would compete at Atlanta and Watkins Glen.[39] At Atlanta, he finished with a career best 11th place. At Watkins Glen, Zilisch qualified 27th, but withdrew following his injury from the previous day.[40]
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Personal life
Zilisch, when not driving himself, is a driver coach to younger drivers in the Karting ranks. He was announced as a client of KHI Management in 2021, but subsequently parted ways with the company in early 2023.[41] He is good friends with fellow driver Jesse Love, who often joke with each other on social media.[42] They also run a YouTube channel together with another fellow driver Daniel Dye called "Shake N Bake Sports".[43]
Zilisch's mother, Janice Kerr, was a gymnast on the Canadian women's national artistic gymnastics team and a member of the 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships tenth-place team. She was the NCAA Southeast Region all-around champion in 1987 and 1988.[44] Kerr was named the Southeastern Conference H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1990, one of only four Florida Gators to have won the award.[45]
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Motorsports career results
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NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Cup Series
Xfinity Series
Craftsman Truck Series
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
ARCA Menards Series
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
ARCA Menards Series East
ARCA Menards Series West
CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
CARS Pro Late Model Tour
(key)
Carolina Pro Late Model Series
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position. Races in italics indicate fastest race lap in class. Results are overall/class)
Mazda MX-5 Cup
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position. Races in italics indicate fastest race lap in class. Results are overall/class)
* Season still in progress
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References
External links
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