Trackhouse Racing star Connor Zilisch is rumored to be one of the favorites to join Hendrick Motorsports in 2028. Team owner Justin Marks recently commented on Zilisch’s future amid the HMS rumors.
Despite a tumultuous rookie Cup Series season, Zilisch is seen as one of the future stars of the stock car racing world. With rumors of Hendrick Motorsports’ interest in the 20-year-old, the Trackhouse owner spoke about his driver’s future on SiriusXM.
“He’s probably coveted by everybody. He’s a very talented driver. He’s a very smart young man. He’s got a big career in front of him. And I think for us, we are committed to Connor; Connor is committed to us through the end of 2027. And 2028, although it’ll be here quickly, is a little too far away I think for us to be spending a lot of bandwidth on at the moment,” said Justin Marks
“Because what we’re trying to solve for right now is get him the experience, get him comfortable. We’ve got a great relationship with Red Bull and a lot of our other partners on the Chevrolet that he drives, and it’s important for us to be executing on the agreement and the relationship and partnership that we have now,” the Trackhouse owner added.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman has confirmed his exit from the team after the 2027 season, making the No. 48 Chevrolet available for the 2028 season. Last year’s Xfinity Series (now O’Reilly) runner-up Connor Zilisch is rumored to be Bowman’s replacement.
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After an impressive 2025 campaign, Zilisch got the full-time Cup Series drive with Trackhouse for this season. While the No. 88 Chevrolet driver has shown glimpses of his potential, the results haven’t been in his favor.
Zilisch was in the lead of the race at Coronado when he was crashed out by Austin Hill during a restart. Being a Chevrolet driver, the transition from Trackhouse to HMS makes sense. Also, being just 20 years old means he’s a great option for HMS’ future as Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are already over 30.
Kevin Harvick On Corey Day’s NASCAR Future If Hendrick Motorsports Signs Connor Zilisch
May 10, 2026; Watkins Glen, New York, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Connor Zilisch (88) races during the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Corey Day is already in the HMS system driving for the O’Reilly team, currently sitting P5 in the standings. However, Day possibly isn’t ready for the full-time Cup drive, and with Connor Zilisch being rumored as Bowman’s replacement, Kevin Harvick came out and wondered about the possible future option for Day’s future.
“That’s a great question, because Corey Day is in that 17 car and he’s in the Hendrick system. He’s in the door already, and it doesn’t appear like he’s ready yet to be able to go in the Cup car,” said Kevin Harvick (via SPEED)
“We hear a lot of rumors that he could possibly go into a different car to get some experience on the Cup side. So it’ll be interesting to see if Corey Day is placed at a Spire or somewhere that he has the opportunity to get some laps and see if he’s ready,” he added.
Read More: “Cursed, Tough Break”: NASCAR Fans React to Connor Zilisch’s Race Ending Crash at Chicagoland
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Corey Day having driven for Spire Motorsports in the Truck series and ARCA, Harvick suggesting a Cup drive with them in the future holds weight.
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