As Kyle Busch crew chief struggles continue to make headlines, rising star Connor Zilisch is making waves by expressing strong faith in his partnership with Randall Burnett ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Scheduled to debut full-time for Trackhouse Racing, Zilisch is stepping into the top tier of stock car racing after dominating performances in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and is poised to work closely with Burnett, whose recent results with Busch have drawn scrutiny.
Connor Zilisch’s Ascent and New Alliances at Trackhouse Racing
After a remarkable 2025 season piloting for JR Motorsports, where Zilisch captured 10 wins in his rookie year and finished second in the championship, he quickly became one of the most talked-about young drivers in NASCAR. Trackhouse Racing, recognizing his potential, offered him a seat in the Cup Series. The transition, however, comes with its own risks, as the demands and competition at the Cup level are widely regarded as a major step up from lower series.
In preparation for this significant move, Trackhouse Racing secured Randall Burnett as Zilisch’s crew chief for 2026. Burnett, who parted ways with Kyle Busch midway through last season after a disappointing joint stint with Richard Childress Racing, brings considerable experience from both the Cup Series and the OAP Series. Their partnership, by design, aims to blend Zilisch’s raw talent with Burnett’s deep knowledge and history of nurturing young drivers.
Zilisch Expresses Confidence in Burnett’s Experience
While Zilisch has had a taste of Cup competition with a handful of starts, committing to a full season is a new and daunting challenge. Despite the doubts raised by Burnett’s tough run with Busch, Zilisch is optimistic about their collaboration. He cited Burnett’s proven record working with prominent drivers as a key reason for his confidence.
“He’s a great guy. He worked with a lot of younger guys. He was with Tyler and Xfinity and worked with him in Cup as well, and then he’s also worked with guys like, obviously, Kyle Bush, one of the most pronounced guys in our sport, and so he’s got a lot of experience,”
Zilisch said.
The key factor for Zilisch is Burnett’s ability to help rookies adapt to the pressures and demands of upper-level racing. With experience shepherding drivers like Tyler Reddick through their rookie seasons and building mutual understanding, Burnett is seen as an asset as Zilisch takes on new challenges.
“I think that experience is gonna help me, and the fact that he’s worked with a rookie before, he understands the growing pains. That way, I kinda know what to expect. I think that’s gonna be really helpful for me and him in our relationship,”
Zilisch added.
Learning from Burnett’s Past and the Kyle Busch Chapters
Burnett previously guided Tyler Reddick to six Xfinity Series wins and a championship in 2019, before moving up to the Cup Series together. Zilisch references this successful partnership as he anticipates his own development curve. The relationship between Burnett and Kyle Busch, however, struggled to yield race wins, with outside factors such as car performance also contributing to their lack of podium finishes in 2024 and 2025. Despite these setbacks, Trackhouse Racing remains committed to using Burnett’s extensive experience to foster their latest young prospect’s potential.
Expanding Horizons: Zilisch Takes on the Rolex 24
Zilisch’s bold approach extends beyond NASCAR. Before officially beginning his Cup Series journey, he will participate in the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona — widely known as the Rolex 24 — in 2026. This marks his debut in the top-tier GTP class, driving the #31 Action Express entry. Zilisch is no stranger to endurance racing, claiming the LMP2 class victory with Era Motorsport in 2024, but competing for overall honors at the Rolex 24 represents a significant milestone.
“Finally get to race for an overall win at the Rolex 24! Thank you to @WhelenEng and @Cadillac for letting me do this one,”
Zilisch wrote.
This GTP appearance will serve as a valuable prelude and warmup before Zilisch turns full attention to the demands of the Cup Series. His entry into the top class of sports car racing underscores his rising stock in the motorsports world and his commitment to building a diverse skill set ahead of taking on NASCAR’s biggest challenge.
A Unique Opportunity Amid Cup Series Uncertainties
Zilisch’s move to work with Burnett comes at a pivotal time. While the team’s leadership change was prompted by struggles between Burnett and Kyle Busch — especially with Busch unable to secure a single victory over two full seasons — Trackhouse Racing believes Zilisch’s rookie hunger and Burnett’s mentorship could forge a partnership capable of making waves. The team’s hope is to channel Burnett’s track record with drivers like Tyler Reddick, rather than repeat the high-profile difficulties seen with Busch and Richard Childress Racing. As the sport looks ahead to 2026, all eyes will be on whether this new pairing can deliver results and potentially emulate Zilisch’s remarkable run in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
What to Watch as Zilisch and Burnett Embark on Their Cup Series Journey
With the Cup season fast approaching and Zilisch fresh off a marquee endurance race, their partnership will be one of the most closely-watched storylines. Zilisch approaches his rookie campaign with energy and optimism, leaning on Burnett’s insight into the demands of NASCAR’s top division. Whether the duo can reverse recent trends and find the winning formula remains to be seen, but their combined experience and ambition set the stage for a dynamic season that could change the trajectories of both driver and crew chief in NASCAR’s premier class.
https://twitter.com/ConnorZilisch/status/2000974482270277913
