39 Facts About Connor Zilisch

Connor Jackson Zilisch was born on July 22,2006 and is an American professional racing driver.

Connor Zilisch is signed as a development driver for Trackhouse Racing as of 2025.

Under that agreement, Zilisch competes in select races across multiple racing series, including the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the CARS Tour, the Trans-Am Series, the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the Global MX-5 Cup.

Connor Zilisch broke onto the racing scene in 2024, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in his first attempts and winning in his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start in September at Watkins Glen, less than two months after his 18th birthday.

Connor Zilisch started competing in go-kart at the age of five in 2011.

Connor Zilisch would spend 10 years racing karts before moving up to cars in 2021.

Connor Zilisch started primarily in the United States until 2017 when he won the Mini Rok World Championship in South Garda, Italy, competing against more than 160 other competitors from 33 different countries.

Connor Zilisch began racing cars in early 2021 with the Sports Car Club of America in the Spec Miata class and quickly began showing strong results, setting 3 track records and reaching the podium multiple times.

At the SCCA Run-offs in Indianapolis that year, Connor Zilisch finished third out of ~ 90 cars in the competitive Spec Miata class and shortly thereafter was named the SCCA Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year.

Connor Zilisch competed in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout competition, in late 2021, winning the $110,000 scholarship which would fund his participation in the series in 2022.

In late 2021, Connor Zilisch ran his first Trans Am TA2 race at Virginia International Raceway earning pole position while shattering the track record as a rookie driver.

Connor Zilisch led the race early until a mechanical issue forced him to retire early his performance in the race led to his being invited to race TA2 full-time for Silver Hare Racing in 2022.

In that race, Connor Zilisch needed to finish at least three spots ahead of Jared Thomas to win the $250K championship prize and on track he did that, finishing sixth to Thomas' ninth-place finish, however a post-race penalty to Alex Bachoura ended up moving Thomas up one position and handing him the championship.

Connor Zilisch won $85K for second place and was named the Mazda MX-5 Cup Rookie of the Year for 2022.

On December 12,2024, it was announced that Connor Zilisch will drive a Corvette Z06 GT3.

In June 2022, Connor Zilisch would make his Pro Late Model debut in the No 4 for Setzer Racing and Development at Orange County Speedway with the Carolina Pro Late Model Series where he would win the pole, and led all the laps en route to his first career victory in an Asphalt Late Model overall and Pro Late Model.

In 2022, Connor Zilisch began racing late-model cars to prepare him for a potential path to NASCAR.

Connor Zilisch would start to run Late Model Stock Cars in the No 57 for Carroll Speedshop.

At Hickory Motor Speedway during the Throwback 276, Connor Zilisch would run a throwback to the No 98 Dogecoin car driven in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014 by his current driver coach Josh Wise.

Connor Zilisch was able to make the race but struggled with mechanical issues throughout the event and finished fourth, two laps down.

Connor Zilisch rebounded the following race at Flat Rock Speedway, where he would go on to obliterate the competition, winning the pole and leading every lap of the race to earn his second career win.

Connor Zilisch continued with a hot streak of victories, winning the next two East Series events at Iowa Speedway and Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, both in dominating fashion.

On January 11,2024, Connor Zilisch signed a multi-year contract with Trackhouse Racing as a developmental driver.

Connor Zilisch made his debut at Circuit of the Americas, shocking the field after winning the pole in his first career start.

Connor Zilisch battled through many mid-race struggles, including penalties and spins.

Connor Zilisch would pass the most trucks throughout the entire race, and eventually made it back to the top five in the final stages.

Connor Zilisch was unable to catch the eventual winner Corey Heim and settled for a fourth-place finish in his series debut.

On March 12,2024, it was announced that Connor Zilisch would run a four-race slate with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No 88 car.

At Watkins Glen, Connor Zilisch won the pole, led the most laps, and saved enough fuel in two overtime restarts for the win in his Xfinity Series debut, becoming the first driver in over three years to win in their Xfinity Series debut.

Download that Connor Zilisch would drive the No 88 car for JRM full-time in 2025.

Connor Zilisch won his first race of the year at Circuit of the Americas.

At the Spring Talladega race, Connor Zilisch was leading on the last lap when he got spun by Jesse Love and his car turned left and hit the inside wall.

Connor Zilisch was complaining about his back but fortunately, was able to walk out on his own power and was not badly injured as he was checked and released from the infield care center.

On January 23,2025, it was announced that Connor Zilisch will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, driving the No 87 for Trackhouse with sponsorship from Red Bull.

Connor Zilisch, when not driving himself, is a driver coach to younger drivers in the Karting ranks.

Connor Zilisch was announced as a client of KHI Management in 2021, but subsequently parted ways with the company in early 2023.

Connor Zilisch is good friends with fellow driver Jesse Love, who often joke with each other on social media.

Connor Zilisch's mother, Janice Kerr, was a gymnast on the Canadian women's national artistic gymnastics team and a member of the 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships tenth-place team.

Connor Zilisch was the NCAA Southeast Region all-around champion in 1987 and 1988.