MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Aug. 8, 2024) — Like many young drivers, Connor Zilisch has been carving out a career path that will take him up the ladder to the upper reaches of the sport. On Wednesday, the 18-year-old driver from Charlotte, N.C. was tabbed to drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
The announcement comes scant months after Zilisch was tabbed for a four-race stint with JRM’s championship-winning NXS team beginning at Watkins Glen International next month.
It’s a chance to start the climb a little sooner–and in a different discipline–than he might have thought.
“This is huge for me,” Zilisch said after finishing his seat fitting on the shop floor inside the JRM headquarters. “It’s the perfect next step for me to be at a place like JR Motorsports. So many NASCAR Cup Series champions and talented drivers have come through this building and to be one of the drivers for 2025 is huge for me.”
After winning the LMP2 (sports car) class at both the 2024 ROLEX 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring earlier this season, the 18-year-old class winner knows it will be a big step forward, one which will require a lot of study.
“It’ll be a big learning curve for me,” he said. “I have a lot to learn, obviously, with my background being a little different than what I’m maybe used to, but it’s the path I’m wanting to take. I have a lot of great people around me that are willing to help and hopefully I’ll be a sponge and soak it in and maybe be a title contender by the end of next year.”
With the seat at JRM, Zilisch was immediately impressed with the history of his new team, which has carved next-level rides for drivers like Chase Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, and William Byron, the 2024 Daytona 500 winner.
“The history is the biggest thing, right?,” Zilisch said. “All the drivers that have come through this system and have made their way to the Cup Series, most of them are all successful and that gives me a lot of hope for the things I’m going to learn and the people I get to work with. I have so many people to lean on for advice and help and it’s really cool to have their trust in my ability. It’s going to be an exciting year.”
The knowledge is one thing, but new tracks await the young star, and he’s conscious of that.
“I’m obviously going to go to a lot of tracks I’ve never been to before and will have a lot to learn, but I feel confident and comfortable in it just because of how many people I have in my corner that are willing to help me with it at any time.”
Another aspect of his learning curve is ongoing in the zMAX CARS Tour, where he has impressed so far this season.
“The CARS Tour for me has been a big learning tool and one that I’ve been fortunate to race in,” he said. “There are so many veterans and drivers in that series who have been doing it for such a long time that I can learn from. I take every chance I get to race in the CARS Tour for granted because every time it’s a race where I can learn and enjoy. That’s the biggest thing. I can learn and have fun and race against guys who are extremely talented at the grassroots level.”
Zilisch has had many a battle with JRM Late Model star Carson Kvapil, two-time and defending CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car champion, and other big-name drivers in the series.
“It’s been cool to race against Carson and all the guys trying to make a name for themselves,” Zilisch said. “It’s been really cool this year racing with my ARCA team too. We won a CARS Tour race at Hickory (Motor Speedway) in my first race of the season and I feel like I’ve been very competitive. I’m hoping I can keep that up and finish the race strong. The CARS Tour has been a been a big piece in my growth and learning curve in getting ready for all the NASCAR series.”
In that season-opening race at Hickory, Zilisch led 24 of the final 25 laps and held off championship contender Brenden Queen to earn the win.
