Connor Zilisch Bio
Connor Jackson Zilisch is an American professional racing driver born on July 22, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing, while also running part-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro SS for JR Motorsports. A versatile talent, Zilisch has built a résumé that spans go-karts, sports cars, late models, and stock cars in only a few years. His rapid climb through multiple racing disciplines has made him one of the most talked-about young drivers in American motorsports.
Early Life and Background
Connor Zilisch was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, a city long associated with NASCAR. He began racing go-karts at the age of five in 2011 and spent the next decade competing on kart tracks around the country. By 2017, he had begun traveling to Europe, where he won the Mini Rok World Championship in South Garda, Italy, against more than 160 competitors from 33 countries. He returned to race primarily in the FIA OKJ class in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and reached the A final at the OKJ World Championship in both 2019 and 2020.
In 2020, Zilisch became the first American ever to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a global series in which drivers compete on identical equipment. The victory established him as one of the top young kart racers in the world and set the stage for his move into cars. Off the track, Zilisch’s mother, Janice Kerr, was a member of the Canadian women’s national artistic gymnastics team and competed at the 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, where the team placed tenth. Kerr was also a standout college athlete at the University of Florida.
Path to NASCAR
Zilisch began racing cars in 2021, starting in the Spec Miata class with the Sports Car Club of America. He set three track records, reached the podium multiple times, and finished third out of nearly ninety cars at the SCCA Run-offs in Indianapolis. He also won the Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year award and claimed a $110,000 scholarship at the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout. That same year, he made his Trans Am TA2 debut at Virginia International Raceway, earning pole position and breaking the track record as a teenager.
In 2022, Zilisch moved into full-time car racing, contesting the Mazda MX-5 Cup and the Trans Am TA2 Series. He recorded four wins in the Mazda MX-5 Cup and narrowly missed the championship at Road Atlanta, finishing second after a post-race penalty altered the results. He was named the Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year. Later in 2022, he made his Pro Late Model debut, winning the pole and leading every lap at Orange County Speedway for Setzer Racing and Development, while also collecting two Late Model Stock Car wins at Hickory Motor Speedway for Carroll Speedshop.
Connor Zilisch Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Zilisch’s earliest car racing was split between Spec Miata, Trans Am TA2, the Mazda MX-5 Cup, and a growing slate of Late Model events. He scored his first Pro Late Model victory in 2022 at Orange County Speedway and added two Late Model Stock Car wins at Hickory Motor Speedway. In 2023, he ran selected CARS Tour events, winning at Ace Speedway for Rackley W.A.R. and running a Josh Wise throwback scheme at Hickory Motor Speedway. He also made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen in 2023, finishing second after a last-corner battle with Jesse Love.
The same year, Zilisch signed with KHI Management in 2021 before parting ways with the company in early 2023. He used the time to expand his stock-car résumé, preparing for a potential run through the NASCAR ladder. His versatility across karts, sports cars, and stock cars drew the attention of major teams and sponsors, positioning him for a national series opportunity in 2024.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Zilisch signed a multi-year developmental contract with Trackhouse Racing in January 2024. He ran a four-race Xfinity Series slate with JR Motorsports later that year, driving the No. 88. After turning 18 in July 2024, he made his Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen International, where he won the pole, led the most laps, and saved enough fuel in two overtime restarts to take the victory. The win made him the first driver in more than three years to win in his Xfinity Series debut, dating back to Ty Gibbs at the 2021 Daytona RC race.
In 2025, Zilisch moved to JR Motorsports full-time in the Xfinity Series and quickly became the story of the season. He won at Circuit of the Americas, Pocono, Sonoma, Dover, Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, Portland, and the series’ return to Gateway, among other victories, finishing the regular season with ten wins. He also strung together a record-breaking streak of eighteen consecutive top-five finishes. He advanced to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished third in the standings and was named NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year. Zilisch announced in late 2025 that he would drive the No. 1 JR Motorsports car part-time in 2026, sharing the ride with Carson Kvapil.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2024–2025)
Zilisch made his Craftsman Truck Series debut in 2024 at Circuit of the Americas with Spire Motorsports in the No. 7. He shocked the field by winning the pole in his first start, then battled through mid-race penalties and spins to climb back to a fourth-place finish. Spire added three more races to his schedule at Richmond, Bristol, and Martinsville. In 2025, he returned to the Truck Series for additional starts with Spire Motorsports and Niece Motorsports, including a race at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval, gaining valuable seat time on road courses and ovals.
Trackhouse Racing Era (2025–Present)
On January 23, 2025, Trackhouse Racing announced that Zilisch would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No. 87 with Red Bull sponsorship. He crashed into teammate Daniel Suárez while trying to avoid Suárez’s spinning car and finished last in his debut. He later ran the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, finishing 23rd after a three-car wreck, and went on to post a career-best 11th-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. At Watkins Glen, he qualified 27th but withdrew after an injury suffered the previous day.
On August 23, 2025, Trackhouse announced a multi-year contract for Zilisch to drive for the team in 2026. On November 7, 2025, the team confirmed he would run the No. 88 Chevrolet, with Shane van Gisbergen moving to the No. 97. He was also announced as part of a Trackhouse and TF Sport joint entry in the GTD Pro class of the 2025 Rolex 24 At Daytona, sharing a Corvette Z06 GT3.R with van Gisbergen, Ben Keating, and Scott McLaughlin.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zilisch is best known for his poise and race craft on road courses, where his karting background translates into precise car control and braking confidence. He has shown an ability to manage fuel and tires in long runs, particularly during the two overtime restarts at Watkins Glen that produced his first Xfinity win. His communication with crew chief Mardy Lindley and his composure under pressure have been central to his rapid rise through the national series ranks.
Notable Races and Milestones
Zilisch’s signature venues include Watkins Glen International, where he has scored multiple Xfinity wins, and the Charlotte Roval, where he earned a 2025 playoff victory. He also became the first American to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020 and one of the youngest winners of the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in 2024. In 2025, his record-breaking eighteen consecutive top-five Xfinity finishes stood as a defining mark of consistency for a rookie.
Connor Zilisch Career Wins
Connor Zilisch has built a diverse and growing list of victories across karting, sports cars, and stock cars. He captured the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in 2024, then added ten NASCAR Xfinity Series wins in 2025 with JR Motorsports. Earlier in his career, he won the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020 and the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout scholarship in 2021.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Highlights
Zilisch’s ten 2025 Xfinity Series wins included Circuit of the Americas, Pocono, Sonoma, Dover, Indianapolis, Watkins Glen, Portland, and the series’ return to Gateway. His first Xfinity victory came at Watkins Glen in 2024 in his series debut. He won the 2025 Regular Season Championship and advanced to the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished second in the final standings and earned Rookie of the Year honors.
Other Wins and Performances
In 2024, Zilisch won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in his first attempts at both events. He also scored multiple ARCA Menards Series East wins in 2024, including Dover, Flat Rock, Iowa, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and Michigan. Earlier highlights include the 2020 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, the 2021 Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout scholarship, and a 2022 Mazda MX-5 Cup campaign that produced four wins and a runner-up championship finish.
Connor Zilisch Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zilisch’s family has deep roots in athletics. His mother, Janice Kerr, competed as a gymnast for the Canadian women’s national artistic gymnastics team and was part of the tenth-place squad at the 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. She was also the NCAA Southeast Region all-around champion in 1987 and 1988 and the 1990 Southeastern Conference H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a member of the Florida Gators. Her athletic background has been a steady influence on Zilisch’s competitive approach.
Personal Life
Outside of racing, Zilisch works as a driver coach for younger karting drivers. He was a client of KHI Management in 2021 before parting ways with the company in early 2023. He also co-runs a YouTube channel called Shake N Bake Sports with fellow drivers Jesse Love and Daniel Dye.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Connor Zilisch’s first full-time year in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports. He opened the year with a win at Circuit of the Americas and added eight more victories across ovals and road courses, building a record-breaking streak of eighteen consecutive top-five finishes. He clinched the Regular Season Championship with his Gateway win, then advanced through the playoffs with a victory at the Charlotte Roval.
His run of consistency was snapped at the fall Talladega race, where he finished 23rd, ending his top-five streak and forcing him to race his way into the Championship 4. He reached the title race at Phoenix Raceway, where he finished third in the event and second in the final standings, losing the championship to Jesse Love. He was named NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year and was also announced as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver for Trackhouse Racing in 2026, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet.
