Despite not yet being old enough to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, 17-year-old rising star Connor Zilisch already has a date set for his debut in the second-tier series, announcing a four-race campaign with JR Motorsports on Tuesday.
Zilisch, a champion of the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, will get behind the wheel of an Xfinity Series entry for the first time at Watkins Glen International on September 14, piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for the championship-winning organization.
The 2.45-mile road course will serve as a launchpad for Zilisch, who will return to the entry in three more events throughout the 2024 season at Kansas Speedway (September 28), Homestead-Miami Speedway (October 26), and Phoenix Raceway (November 9).
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Connor into the JR Motorsports family and to give him an opportunity behind the wheel of our No. 88 Chevrolet,” said JRM CEO Kelley Earnhardt Miller. “Connor is an extremely talented young man and we can’t wait to see what he can do when he gets to the track with us at Watkins Glen.”
A native of Mooresville, North Carolina, Zilisch began assembling his impressive resume at five years old. Now 17 years old, Zilisch has won multiple US national karting championships and set track records at six different venues in his first year in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 2021.
Last Summer at Watkins Glen International, Zilisch made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series, finishing in second place for Pinnacle Racing Group, after dominating and getting passed on the final lap of the race. Earlier this year, Zilsich was signed to a multi-year driver development deal for Trackhouse Racing. As part of that deal, the driver is expected to run events in IMSA, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Trucks, ARCA, TransAm, and various other racing series.
“It’s a dream come true to have the opportunity to race in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports for select races this year,” said Zilisch. “I have a lot to learn considering that I’ve never raced on any big tracks previously, but there’s no better team to learn with than JRM. I can’t thank everyone at Chevrolet, Silver Hare Racing, and Trackhouse Racing for helping me get to this point, and continuing to support me into my future. I look forward to giving my all and making the most of this opportunity.”
Further details regarding sponsorship partners for Zilisch and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro will be announced at a later date.
