In January 2024, Zilisch signed a multi-year development deal with Trackhouse Racing, the NASCAR Cup Series team co-owned by former racer Justin Marks and Cuban-American rap star Pitbull.
Marks is quite the visionary among the NASCAR team owners, making his race team operate as an effective marketing tool that allows him to do things differently – like bringing the immensely talented Shane van Gisbergen across from Supercars in Australia.
Now his latest project is Zilisch, a former karting star from Charlotte, N.C. who has been tearing up multiple series across America on all kind of tracks despite his tender years.
Connor Zilisch in domestic karting competition
Photo by: Cody Schindel
Who is Connor Zilisch?
A winner of several national kart titles in his youth, Zilisch became the first American to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020, which was won by Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc in 2011. He switched to car racing in 2021.
In 2022, he was Rookie of the Year in the Mazda MX-5 Cup and took the first steps on his path in stock cars, running some local Late Model events and bagging a couple of wins at the age of 15.
Last year, Zilisch almost scored a maiden ARCA win on his series debut – after leading for 34 laps – but was passed at the final corner at Watkins Glen by current Xfinity Series star Jesse Love, who nerfed his way ahead as Connor battled against a broken sway bar.
Zilisch also starred in Trans-Am, becoming the series’ youngest-ever race winner and taking five wins. In Mazdas, he scored four victories in 10 starts.
Pole sitter Connor Zilisch, Spire Motorsports, Chevrolet Silverado
Photo by: Rusty Jarrett / NKP / Motorsport Images
Due to his age, Zilisch cannot run a full-time national NASCAR-sanctioned series; he’s only allowed to contest events on smaller oval tracks and road courses. He currently leads the ARCA East standings by 17 points from reigning champion William Sawalisch, who is Toyota’s 17-year-old prodigy and signed to Joe Gibbs Racing.
Zilisch has already taken two ARCA Menards national wins from two starts, his most recent coming after an incredible duel for victory with Sawalisch at Iowa (see video below).
His worst finish in the series is that Watkins Glen runner-up spot from 2023…
Zilisch scored pole position on his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas by twice smashing the lap record, and finished fourth against drivers who’d…
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