Connor Zilisch is set to take over the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the retiring Alex Bowman ahead of the 2028 NASCAR Cup Series season. Zilisch is currently a rookie in the Cup Series and pilots the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing.
The 20-year-old quickly emerged as one of NASCAR’s top young talents after a breakout 2025 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season in which he recorded 10 victories and finished runner-up in the championship. Now headed to one of NASCAR’s most accomplished organizations, Zilisch is poised to become an even bigger name in the Cup Series. Here are five fast facts about Hendrick Motorsports’ newest driver.
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1. Zilisch currently drives for Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series
Following a remarkable rookie campaign in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series last year, Zilisch signed a multi-year agreement with Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series starting in 2026. Zilisch had previously made Cup starts for Trackhouse on a part-time basis.
The rookie campaign has been a struggle for Zilisch, however. After 24 races, Zilisch has recorded only one top-10 finish and holds a series-high eight DNFS. He currently sits 34th in the points standings.
2. Zilisch won his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut
Prior to moving up to full-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition in 2025, Zilisch competed on a part-time basis for JR Motorsports in 2024. Zilisch made his NOAPS debut at Watkins Glen International, where he put the NASCAR scene on notice by winning his first race.
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Zilisch became the seventh driver in series history to win in his debut race. Piloting the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, Zilisch started on the pole and led a race-high 45 of 90 laps en route to victory.
3. Zilisch’s mother was a famous gymnast
Zilisch’s mother, Janice Kerr, was once an athlete in her own right. Kerr was a standout gymnast, most notably being a member of the Canadian women’s national artistic gymnastics team and a member of the 10th-place finishing 1983 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Kerr attended the University of Florida and earned the NCAA Southeast Region all-around champion honors in 1987 and 1988 with the Gators.
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4. Zilisch flew with U.S. Thunderbirds prior to Daytona 500
Prior to the 2026 Daytona 500, Zilisch and fellow NASCAR Cup Series John Hunter Nemechek got quite the opportunity.
The two got the chance to ride inside an Air Force Thunderbird during a practice session on Feb. 12 in preparation for the upcoming flyover for the Daytona 500. As he expressed on social media, Zilisch said it was a thrilling experience.
“Thanks for the ride [Air Force Thunderbirds]! Coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Zilisch said.
5. Zilisch hosts a YouTube channel with fellow NASCAR drivers
During his time outside the race car, Zilisch enjoys embracing social media and interacting with fans. One of Zilisch’s off-track projects is a YouTube channel, which he does with fellow NASCAR drivers Jesse Love and Daniel Dye.
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The channel is called “Shake N Bake Sports,” likely a spin-off of the infamous catchphrase from the NASCAR movie “Talladega Nights.” Zilisch’s channel has over 2,000 subscribers and over 500 videos posted.
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