Trackhouse Racing’s Teenage Sensation Names Kyle Larson as a Milestone on His Path to NASCAR Greatness

Connor Zilisch proved his mettle as a promising racer by displaying commendable racing skills at the tracks of COTA. The 17-year-old debuted in the Truck Series, racing in the XPEL 225. Zilisch’s racecraft was in the spotlight, as driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado he clinched the pole position too. Racing under the banner of Spire Motorsports, the racer lapped the challenging 3.14-mile Texas road course in 131.983 seconds for the qualifying.

Zilisch starting from the pole raced his heart out, providing a P4 finish in the end. His marvelous maneuvering skills at the challenging COTA garnered him a chance to be featured on the Door Bumper Clear Podcast Show. Detailing out his journey, the teenager quipped about his ideal racing legend being Kyle Larson and also mentioned the pivotal role of Kevin Harvick in rooting his NASCAR career.

Connor Zilisch’s Future Aspirations: To be as Competitive as Kyle Larson

Connor Zilisch’s debut performance at the XPEL 225 race sent ripples across the NASCAR community. Post his performance, Zilisch was invited to the recent episode of the DBC Podcast. Starting the conversation, Freddie Kraft, one of the hosts for the show, mentioned Zilisch’s participation in various racing series like Trans Am TA2, ARCA East, ARCA National, and now Trucks and Xfinity. Kraft then inquired about Zilisch’s unique development path compared to other drivers. Adding to his question, he also asked about who influenced Zilisch to take this unconventional route.

Connor on the other end replied, “I’ve grown up, I’ve always kind of took the mindset of I want to race, whatever I can get in, and um you know that’s kind of the way, I’ve looked at it.”

Reflecting on his beginnings as a race-car driver, Zilisch added, “You know, ever since I was 12 years old, I basically got to take every opportunity I can get.” He then went on, keeping his intentions and his aspirations at the forefront. “I feel like I can be competitive in anything I get, and you know, Guys like Kyle Larson, who do the same thing, right? Race sprint cars during the week and then go win on Sundays,” stated Zilisch.

Admiring Larson’s race-craft the teenager wished, “That’s the kind of guy I want to be. And you know, I want to be able to get in any car and be competitive.”

How Kevin Harvick Changed Zilisch’s Racing Destiny?

Before diving into the official world of NASCAR, Zilisch managed to clinch some notable achievements this year. He won the Rolex 24 at the Daytona and also triumphed in the 12 Hours of Sebring race. 

However, Zilisch’s initial aspiration was to race in Formula 1. Born and raised in South Charlotte, Zilisch grew up racing asphalt go-karts on road courses, with dreams of pursuing a career in F1.

Zilisch admitted that he “was never really a big you know NASCAR guy, was never really into it that much. I raced go-karts in Europe throughout my early years when I was 10 11 12 years old. And you know I honestly wanted to go race F1 but it was unrealistic and not possible.”

On the flip side, there’s a saying, “It happens when it happens.” His introduction to the NASCAR world came through a fortunate encounter with Kevin Harvick. A few years back Zilisch became teammates with Harvick’s son, Keelan, on a go-kart team in America, which opened the door to NASCAR for him. Harvick’s influence proved instrumental in kickstarting Zilisch’s stock car racing career. It was Harvick who facilitated Zilisch’s entry into his first stock car race at the age of 15 in 2022. 

Reflecting on his journey, Zilisch acknowledged “When Kevin Harvick got me, my first race in Trans Am, you know, he helped to put it together with nitro Motorsports. I qualified on the poll but I think eight-tenths and, you know, I was leading the race until an injector failed. But that kind of got my foot in the door and, you know, I got a full-time ride, the next year because of that.”

With notable achievements already under his belt and aspirations set high, Connor Zilisch’s admiration for racing legends like Kyle Larson fuels his drive to excel in every opportunity he gets behind the wheel. Looking ahead, Zilisch is gearing up to pilot the No. 7 Chevy Silverado again this season at Talladega Superspeedway, marking another milestone in his budding career. Furthermore, Spire Motorsports is coordinating a separate entry for Zilisch at the October 27 Truck Series playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, providing him with valuable experience and exposure on the national stage.

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