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Connor Zilisch has started to expand his horizons and finally made his NASCAR debut in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports. However, he is yet to come of age to legally run in the National Series, but that has not stopped him from signing deals with major teams. Known for his versatile background in racing, Zilisch has probably built the dream CV of any young driver, one that puts him in a different league.

Zilisch will pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet in four races in the Xfinity Series this season. His schedule kicks off at Watkins Glen in September, followed by races at Kansas Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Pheonix. Speaking about his meteoric rise in the motorsports world, the 17-year-old also went on to share his future ambitions and goals while speaking with Dale Earnhardt Jr in a recent episode of DJD.

Why is Zilisch so inspired by the HMS star driver?

Starting off his motorsports adventure, Connor Zilisch became the first American driver to win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy in Europe in 2020. He then proceeded to compete in the Mazda MX-5 Cup Series. Trying to work towards his NASCAR vision, he then started competing in the Late Model Stock Car series, along with his ARCA debut last season.

For a 17-year-old, Connor Zilisch sure is punching above his weight. Now that he has made his breakthrough in NASCAR, he is looking to go the Kyle Larson route, a racecar driver who does not restrict himself to just NASCAR racing. Speaking on DJD, Connor Zilisch said, “Guys like Kyle Larson that shows a bunch of talent and success those are some of the guys that I look up to. I want to be like him and be able to get into anything. Go race the Indy500 come back and win the Cup race at Charlotte on the same day.”

“So that is the kind of the guy that I look up to, who I want to be one day as a NASCAR driver and I don’t want to be know just a NASCAR driver. One day I want to run many different cars as time will let me and that’s kind of way I’ve looked at things at 17 years old and I’m going to continue to do that as long as can,” he further added.

All drivers have a tale as to how they got into racing or motorsports, and for Connor Zilisch, it was his father’s passion for cars and his early go-karting days that fueled his ambitions to become a race car driver.

Memories of his early racing days

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For all that Connor Zilisch has accomplished so far in his career, he could very well turn out to be an ace Formula 1 driver. It all started when he was just four and playing soccer at school. When his coach advised his dad to get him a go-kart, he obliged. Then one thing led to another, and soon his hobby became his passion. Soon he realized his dream of becoming a racecar driver, and now, with the move to JR Motorsports, he has initiated the drive to fulfill that dream.

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He said, “When I was four or five, my soccer coach suggested to my dad that he get us go-karts… He always liked cars growing up, so it made sense, and that’s where I kind of fell in love with the sport, first found my passion for Motorsports. It started out as a hobby, then I started doing regional racing, which turned into national racing, which in turn got me into Europe and racing against the best kids in the world. It was funny how it all came about but I’m very thankful it did.”

Connor Zilisch sure has had a dream run so far, following his passion for racing. And at the rate that he has made progress over the past, there could be a next big NSACAR star on the rise who can take the scene by storm.