The future is set at Hendrick Motorsports, as the team has officially buttoned up the answer to the question of who will drive the No. 48 Chevrolet after Alex Bowman steps away from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the conclusion of 2027.
On Monday, the team officially announced that it has signed Connor Zilisch to a multi-year contract, beginning with the 2028 NASCAR Cup Series season. The current driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet will serve as the full-time driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet for HMS.
According to the release from Hendrick Motorsports, Ally Financial, which has served as a primary sponsor of the No. 48 Chevrolet since 2019, will continue as the full-season primary sponsor for the team and its new driver, Zilisch.
The announcement is massive as it pairs arguably one of the hottest young prospects in the history of the sport with the 15-time NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning team. While Hendrick Motorsports knows what they have in Zilisch’s driving ability, they were equally keen on the 20-year-old’s maturity level.
“Connor is a truly gifted young racer,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, in a press release. “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.”
For Zilisch, who has struggled to find his footing with Trackhouse Racing during his rookie season, a chance to drive for Hendrick Motorsports is the stuff that he dreams of.
“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, which will enter its 10th year as the full-season sponsor of the No. 48 Chevrolet, is elated to continue building its legacy in NASCAR with the No. 48 team and its new driver, Zilisch.
“We’ve spent nearly a decade investing in the No. 48’s storied legacy alongside Hendrick Motorsports, and handing the wheel to a driver of Connor’s caliber is such an incredible way to begin another historic chapter,” said Andrea Brimmer, chief marketing and public relations officer for Ally. “Connor is an unbelievable talent with the motivation to match, and he understands what it means to represent a brand and a fanbase that care deeply about this car. I’m thrilled to welcome him to the Ally Racing family and cannot wait to do great things together on and off the track.”
Justin Marks, the owner of Trackhouse Racing, called the loss of Zilisch “a bittersweet moment” for his team in a statement shared following the news.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for Trackhouse, but I am truly happy for Connor to get an opportunity that many drivers only dream of. While our goal was always to have him in our cars for the long term, I’m still excited for the opportunity we have with him now and in 2027,” Marks said. “At Trackhouse, our mandate remains to work hard, accomplish big things with Connor while we have him, and position this 88 Chevy team to move into the 2028 NASCAR Cup season ready for a new, inspiring, and talented driver that will author the next chapter in this amazing book we are writing. But not yet.”
Zilisch, a 13-time winner in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, began his racing career in karting at the age of 5. Zilisch captured the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2020 and transitioned to cars in 2021. Zilisch impressed in sports cars, Trans-Am, and late model stock cars before moving into the ARCA Menards Series ranks and NASCAR National Series divisions.
In 2025, Zilisch finished second to Jesse Love in the championship battle in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Zilisch amassed 10 wins that season, despite coming up short of the championship.
