“I want to try and become the youngest Cup Series winner.” These words from Connor Zilisch reveal the ambition driving the 18-year-old phenom. As he prepares for his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), the stakes are sky-high. Zilisch has already made waves in the racing world, proving his talent across multiple disciplines, he wants to etch his name in the record books by breaking Joey Logano’s record.

But COTA will be a tough challenge. He will have to battle Cup veterans like Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and William Byron, starting from the 14th position. While the odds may be against him, Zilisch thrives on proving people wrong. But before he takes on NASCAR’s best, JR Motorsports driver revealed that Jimmie Johnson was his childhood hero. However, his reasoning for the same is making headlines.

Connor Zilisch praises consistent NASCAR drivers!

Connor Zilisch’s confidence will be high when he wheels the No.87 Chevy of Trackhouse Racing in COTA on Sunday. This optimism comes from last night’s win in the Xfinity series. However, ahead of the event, he spoke about his fondness for seven-time cup champion Jimmie Johnson. In a candid interview with Rubbin’ is Racing, he praised his work ethic and no-nonsense approach.

“I grew up rooting for Jimmie, and I was a Jimmie fan. I know it’s boring to say, but, um, you know, I admired his work ethic, his skill, and I think as I’ve gotten to kind of hear more about him and stories from people about him, my respect has grown for him. Because, you know, he won whatever, five championships in a row, some crazy thing like that. You know, people get content after they start to become successful, and he didn’t,” Zilisch said.

While this might upset some fans, Zilisch’s choice of Jimmie Johnson speaks volumes. Notably, Johnson dominated NASCAR in the 2000s like no one else. Winning five straight championships from 2006 to 2010, he set a standard that few could match. His style wasn’t flashy, and he rarely engaged in drama. But that consistency made some fans resent him. Many fans have accused him of making the sport “boring”.

In a sport where personalities like Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, and Kyle Busch have thrived on controversy and aggression, Johnson has let his car talk. Yet, for Zilisch, that’s precisely why he stands out. “So, um, he’s someone that I rooted for. And I didn’t even really understand that—I just liked guys that won. It’s hard not to root for a guy that wins almost every freaking week, it seemed like. So, um, you know, that was a big one for me,” he added.

Zilisch didn’t stop there. He also compared his path to Joey Logano’s, acknowledging that he wanted to learn from Logano’s experiences as a young driver in the Cup Series. While he aims to break his records, he wishes to spend some time with the Team Penske driver. “And, you know, I want to talk to Joey and kind of ask him for advice because he went through the same stuff that I’m going through right now, right? He made his Cup Series debut at 18, or I think he was 18 when he did, too. So, um, you know, I’m curious to see a kind of what his mindset was, the mistakes he made, the things he went through that he wished he didn’t,” said Zilisch.

Similar to Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano is also not a fan-favorite champion. After struggling in his early years, he found success with Team Penske. He made headlines by winning the Cup Series in 2018, 2022, and 2024. Like Johnson, he has been criticized for his methodical approach and his ability to execute when it matters most. Fans often decline his championship wins, calling out NASCAR’s playoff format and much more.

Despite that, JR Motorsports’ driver Zilisch sees him as a source of learning. Notably, he is going to be the second youngest driver after Joey Logano in NASCAR history to make the Cup series debut. Similar to Logano’s journey, Zilisch also has the backing of a big team (JR Motorsports) and some significant results in the Xfinity series. Many feel that Zilisch can become the next Joey Logano as he mirrors his approach.

Zilisch’s driving style already mirrors that of Logano—fast, aggressive, and unafraid of making contact. After his recent Xfinity win, Zilisch admitted, “I made some moves that were probably questionable, and I’ve got some sorries to say.” Those words sound eerily like many post-race interviews Logano has given over the years. Now, if he wins at COTA, he will break Logano’s record as the youngest Cup Series winner and establish himself in the history books.

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Zilisch continues his road track dominance!

Before stepping into a Cup car at COTA, Connor Zilisch delivered a statement victory in the Xfinity Series. The 18-year-old put on a masterclass in road course racing, overcoming multiple setbacks to claim his second career Xfinity win. The Focused Health 250 started as Zilisch’s race to lose. Starting from the pole, he faced an early pit stop penalty, which put him way back in 32nd position.

Instead of panicking, Zilisch attacked. He aggressively worked his way through the field, engaging in fierce battles with Corey Heim and even his teammate, Carson Kvapil. His moves drew criticism, with some calling him reckless. But Zilisch didn’t back down. With five laps to go, he finally found a clear path. Kvapil, his toughest competitor, made a mistake, allowing Zilisch to take the lead. From there, he never looked back, cruising to victory.

The victory solidified Zilisch as a top road course racer. His ability to battle through adversity and come out on top was impressive. Now, he moves to the Cup race, and his experience in last night’s race will surely help him to produce some iconic racing moments. However, he will be up against some greats of the sport, and one mistake could deter his dream of becoming the youngest NASCAR Cup race winner.