Connor Zilisch will run four NASCAR Xfinity Series races with JR Motorsports in the No. 88 Chevrolet after signing a new deal.
Connor Zilisch, a 17-year-old rising talent who is not yet old enough to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series announced a four-race campaign with JR Motorsports on Tuesday, setting a date for his debut in the second-tier series.
The 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona champion will drive an Xfinity Series car for the first time at Watkins Glen International on September 14. He will be driving the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro for the championship winning team.
“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.”
His other three races will be Kansas Speedway (Sept. 28), Homestead-Miami Speedway (Oct. 26), and Phoenix Raceway (Nov. 9).
Zilisch, a Mooresville, North Carolina native, started building his remarkable racing résumé at the age of five. The 17-year old has captured multiple US national karting titles and set track records at six different venues marking a successful first year in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in 2021.
Zilisch made his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen International last summer and rallied Pinnacle Racing Group to a second-place finish despite being overtaken on the last lap.
Trackhouse Racing signed Zilsich to a multi-year driver development contract earlier this year. The driver will participate in races in IMSA, NASCAR Xfinity, NASCAR Trucks, ARCA, TransAm, and other racing series as part of the arrangement.
“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.”
Zilisch and the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro’s sponsorship partners will be revealed at a later date.
