After dominating the 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Connor Zilisch was expected to make an immediate impact in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, following the first three races of the season, Zilisch ranks 32nd in the points standings. Despite this modest start, veteran driver Denny Hamlin believes Zilisch will soon become a formidable competitor against Shane van Gisbergen, especially on road courses.
Hamlin Sees Potential in Zilisch’s Growth
Denny Hamlin has expressed confidence in Connor Zilisch’s future performance, noting steady improvement despite early challenges. Although Zilisch’s qualifying and practice sessions have not been outstanding, Hamlin observed a clear upward trajectory through race weekends.
“I think SVG is about to have company in the road course domination bracket. He’s already got the racecraft to pass and make speed. He didn’t qualify well. Didn’t practice great,”
Hamlin said.
He had good speed, but not great speed. But as the weekend went on, he just kept getting better and faster. So, I think that we’re going to be talking about him for definitely a handful of races here,
the Joe Gibbs Racing driver added.
Hamlin also highlighted the typical learning curve for young entrants in the sport. Zilisch showed some early aggression at Atlanta, trying to accelerate his adjustment to the high-level competition. The 19-year-old required little time to adapt to the O’Reilly series car in 2025, but it took until the Charlotte race in May before he reached dominance. Hamlin anticipates a similar progression might occur as Zilisch settles into the Cup Series.
Zilisch Demonstrates Readiness on NASCAR’s Main Stage
At the recent race in Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Zilisch’s 14th-place finish was a testament to his resilience and skill. Turn 1 at COTA’s challenging road course is notorious for tripping up even the most experienced drivers. Zilisch was spun out twice in this section but managed to recover and secure a strong top-15 position.
Although he was not entirely content with the final result, Zilisch regarded his performance as one of his best efforts so far.
“It was good. Just as a racecar driver, I’m not satisfied, but I showed I can do it,”
he stated. With continued progress, victory lane appears within reach for the young driver, potentially sooner on a road course than elsewhere.
Implications for Van Gisbergen Amid Rising Competition
Shane van Gisbergen recently experienced a setback after losing a race to Tyler Reddick, a situation that might unsettle any competitor. With Zilisch’s rapid development and increasing threat, the reigning road course specialist could face extra pressure in upcoming events. Zilisch’s emergence promises to intensify competition within the Cup Series, reshaping the landscape on road courses and beyond.
