Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that Connor Zilisch, a promising rookie from JR Motorsports, has the talent to build a NASCAR career worthy of the Hall of Fame. Although Zilisch’s transition to the Cup Series is challenging, particularly given the differences between cars, his potential remains evident.
At just 19 years old, Connor Zilisch made a significant impact in the Xfinity Series, securing four wins in nine races and marking JR Motorsports’ 100th series victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As Trackhouse Racing’s development driver, Zilisch is on track to join their Cup Series lineup next season following Daniel Suárez’s departure from the team.
Challenges of Moving to the Cup Series with Next Gen Cars
During a recent interview, Dale Earnhardt Jr. addressed whether Zilisch was ready to step up to the Cup Series. He highlighted how different the Next Gen Cup cars handle compared to Xfinity cars, noting the complexity and expense involved in easing that transition through partial schedules. Earnhardt Jr. explained:
“I sure would love to have him one more year, but I don’t know with how different the Xfinity car is versus the Cup car. … But he’s got to get behind the wheel of that Next Gen car to really understand what it does differently because it drives differently, feels differently, independent rear suspension, how the air gets to the back of the diffuser.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., JR Motorsports Co-owner
“It’s probably too expensive to dilly dally and run him in 10 or 15 (Cup Series) races a year for a while to get his feet wet. You might as well jump right on in there. So, I understand the process… but I think we can all see the writing on the wall, and honestly, I think that kid has potential to do incredible, Hall of Fame-worthy things,” he added.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., JR Motorsports Co-owner
Zilisch’s 2025 season includes three Cup Series starts. His debut at Circuit of the Americas ended early due to a crash, but he returned for the Coca-Cola 600 and later earned his best finish of 11th place in Atlanta, showing promise as he gains experience.
Celebrating a Milestone Victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The historic 100th NASCAR Xfinity Series win for JR Motorsports came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with Connor Zilisch delivering the key victory. The team’s co-owners, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller, expressed the importance of this milestone for the organization.
“100 wins for our team. That’s a big deal. I know my sister and everybody’s every emotional, and we’re going to enjoy this one,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., JR Motorsports Co-owner
Zilisch’s decisive move happened in the final two laps when he overtook Taylor Gray on Lap 99, aided by Sam Mayer’s effort to clear the path in Turn 3. Zilisch maintained a narrow lead to the finish, crossing just 0.339 seconds ahead.
The race also saw a crucial moment earlier when Kyle Larson and Justin Allgaier collided in Turn 2, an incident that removed both drivers from contention and opened the door for Zilisch’s late charge up the field.
The Road Ahead for Connor Zilisch
Zilisch’s journey to NASCAR’s top tier is still unfolding. While the adjustment to Cup Series racing, especially in Next Gen cars, will be demanding, his successes illustrate a bright future. Earnhardt Jr.’s confidence underscores the belief that Zilisch’s career trajectory could include extraordinary achievements, potentially earning him a place among NASCAR’s legends.
As discussions advance on Zilisch’s expansion into the full Cup Series schedule, fans and experts will watch closely to see how his talent adapts and grows at the sport’s highest level.