Connor Zilisch’s NASCAR future is officially set.
Hendrick Motorsports announced Monday that Zilisch has signed a multiyear agreement to drive the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet beginning with the 2028 NASCAR Cup Series season, putting one of the sport’s brightest young stars behind the wheel of one of its most recognizable cars.
Advertisement
The move also establishes the succession plan for Alex Bowman, who previously announced his retirement from full-time competition following the 2027 season.
Zilisch will join Hendrick Motorsports after competing full-time for Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series through 2027.
“We’ve got your number, @ConnorZilisch,” Hendrick Motorsports wrote in announcing the move on social media. “The future arrives in 2028.”
For the 20-year-old Zilisch, it’s the latest major step in a NASCAR rise that has happened remarkably quickly.
Connor Zilisch Will Take Over Hendrick’s No. 48 in 2028
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick made clear just how highly the organization views its future driver.
Advertisement
“Connor is a truly gifted young racer,” Hendrick said. “His talent behind the wheel is exceptional, but I’m even more impressed by the person he is. When someone with that kind of ability and character becomes available, you do everything you can to bring them into your organization. We have tremendous confidence in Connor, and we believe he’s the right driver to build on the legacy of the No. 48 Ally team for many years to come.”
Zilisch’s arrival will mark the beginning of a new era for a No. 48 car that has become synonymous with championship success.
Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 to seven Cup Series championships during his legendary Hendrick career. Bowman eventually assumed the ride beginning with the 2021 season.
Now, Zilisch has been selected as its next full-time driver.
Advertisement
“This is one of those moments you dream about as a kid,” Zilisch said. “Hendrick Motorsports has always represented the standard in our sport, and being entrusted to help continue that legacy means everything to me. The chance to drive a Chevrolet for Mr. Hendrick, carry the colors of an incredible partner like Ally and compete alongside some of the best drivers and people in racing is what you work so hard for. I’m grateful for the confidence they’ve shown in me, and it’s my job to prove they made the right decision.”
Ally will remain the No. 48 team’s full-season primary sponsor in 2028, marking its 10th season with Hendrick Motorsports.
Zilisch’s Meteoric NASCAR Rise Leads to Hendrick Motorsports
Few drivers have climbed NASCAR’s ladder as rapidly as Zilisch.
Advertisement
He burst onto the national NASCAR scene in September 2024 by winning his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Watkins Glen International.
Zilisch then delivered a historic 2025 NOAPS season, producing 10 victories, eight pole positions and the regular-season championship while competing for Hendrick affiliate JR Motorsports.
His résumé stretches well beyond NASCAR.
Zilisch began racing karts at 5 years old and won the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020. After transitioning to cars, he competed across sports cars, Trans-Am and late models before breaking through nationally.
In 2024, he scored class victories in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in his first attempts. Less than two months after turning 18, he made his NOAPS debut at Watkins Glen and led 45 of 90 laps on the way to victory.
Advertisement
He made three Cup Series starts for Trackhouse Racing in 2025 before beginning his full-time Cup career in 2026.
Now Hendrick Motorsports has made Zilisch a centerpiece of its future.
Bowman’s impending departure created one of the most coveted openings in NASCAR, and Hendrick isn’t looking outside its Chevrolet pipeline for the answer.
It is handing the No. 48 to one of the sport’s premier young talents.
Zilisch will officially join Hendrick Motorsports in 2028 following Bowman’s retirement from full-time NASCAR competition, beginning the next chapter for a car number carrying one of the richest legacies in Cup Series history.
Read the full article here
