Oddsmakers gave the Trackhouse Racing driver the second-best odds to win Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β Most drivers use theirΒ NASCAR Cup Series debut to learn how to compete at the highest level of stock car racing and show they belong.
Connor Zilisch, though, sees his series debut as a chance to become NASCAR’s youngest winner.Β
The 18-year-old Charlotte native will make his Cup Series debut on Sunday at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He will pilot the No. 87 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing.
“I want to try and become the youngest Cup Series winner,” Zilisch said Β in a media appearance on Tuesday. “I don’t feel like there’s anything that tells me that I’m not ready to race on a road course on Sunday.”
Zilisch made a smashing impression on the racing scene in 2024, winning his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen and scoring five ARCA victories in eight starts.
Oddsmakers gave Zilisch (+550) the second-best odds to win Sunday’s race, behind only Shane Van Gisbergen (+500). The teenager is predicted to have a better finish in his debut than series champions Chase Elliott (+1100) and Ryan Blaney (+3000).
“I’m excited to make the most of it and try and not make mistakes,” Zilisch said.
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Zilisch competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports. Crashes relegated him to poor finishes at Daytona and Atlanta but the road course race at COTA could allow the rising star to get his season back in gear.
“The speedway races haven’t gone to plan,” Zilisch said. “[I’m] excited to get to a racetrack that I’m a little bit more comfortable at this weekend and hopefully lock ourselves into the playoffs sooner rather than later.”
Zilisch countered his bold goals of victory with some realistic expectations about his chances on Sunday.
“I think I go into this this weekend with the same mindset I did the XFINITY debut,” Zilisch said. “I have no expectations. I don’t expect to go win. I just kind of go in expecting to learn and pick up as much as I can from the weekend. But there’s always a chance your car is really good.”
Joey Logano was the youngest winner in NASCAR Cup Series history. He won at New Hampshire in 2009 at 19 years, 1 month, and 4 days old. Zilisch is 18 years and seven months old.
In 2023, Van Gisbergen became the first driver in over 60 years to win their Cup Series debut. It’s an improbable feat that drivers only get one chance at. Zilisch hopes to make the most of his opportunity on Sunday.
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