Trackhouse Racing prospect Connor Zilisch will make a pair of additional Cup Series starts over NASCAR’s summer stretch.
The 18-year-old driver was confirmed for additional Cup appearances on Wednesday. Zilisch will make his third-career start on June 28 at the newly-renamed EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway). He’ll then return to the site of his win on debut in the Xfinity Series from 2024, competing at Watkins Glen International on Aug. 10.
Zilisch will continue to compete in Trackhouse’s No. 87 Chevrolet for the races, running with sponsorship from Red Bull.
“It’s awesome to have the opportunity to race two more times in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Zilisch said in a press release. “Nothing beats experience in this sport, especially at the Cup level. Thanks to everyone at Red Bull and Trackhouse for this opportunity.”
Despite his young age, Zilisch has already emerged as one of NASCAR’s most promising prospects. A well-rounded driver with victories ranging from the CARS Tour to the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Zilisch has already been to victory lane twice in 17 Xfinity Series starts and currently sits fifth in the series standings for JR Motorsports.
The North Carolinian has two Cup appearances to his name thus far. A March debut at Circuit of The Americas started with a promising 14th-place qualifying effort but ended in a DNF after a crash with teammate Daniel Suarez. Zilisch returned in May’s Coca-Cola 600 and earned valuable experience, completing 398 of 400 laps in a 23rd-place effort.
More track time comes at a moment when Zilisch could be considered for a full-time rise to Cup. The young star has potential to push out one of his Trackhouse teammates in 2026, though Justin Marks told The Athletic no decisions have been made about next year’s roster.
Trackhouse currently fields Ross Chastain, Suarez and Supercars champion-turned Cup driver Shane van Gisbergen. Suarez was the team’s first hire and is a centerpiece of the organization, but is in a contract year and sits a disappointing 28th in the standings, while van Gisbergen has struggled to adapt to Cup racing and finds himself 33rd, out of the In-Season Tournament and likely in need of a road course win to turn his season around.
