Connor Zilisch turned heads with his NASCAR debut last year, winning his first-ever Xfinity Series race in September. Earlier in 2024, he secured a top-five finish in his debut Truck Series outing. However, his stint in the Cup Series didn’t begin as smoothly. His debut race, at COTA in March this year, came to an abrupt end following a collision with teammate Daniel Suarez in Stage 3.
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However, when he was out on the track, Zilisch exhibited great pace and composure behind the wheel of the Next Gen car, earning praise from veteran drivers. Still, for all the buzz he generated, Zilisch revealed that no one from the Cup garage personally approached him for insights.
In his recent appearance on SpeedFreaks, the soft-spoken and grounded 18-year-old shared that while seasoned competitors often speak about him, they have yet to seek his perspective directly. However, he did recount a brief yet meaningful exchange with the #8 RCR driver.
“Kyle Busch, I was talking to him before the race at COTA,” Zilisch recalled. “He was asking for advice for his kid and how he should take his career with Brexton.”
The part-time Trackhouse Racing driver shared that he sees a bright future for Brexton Busch. Zilisch predicted that the youngster would make waves in the sport, and appreciated the opportunity to discuss Brexton’s path and long-term plans with Busch.
However, “Nobody’s asked me for racing advice for themselves yet,” added Zilisch.
“I don’t think any NASCAR driver has the… Everyone’s ego, all of our egos, are way too high to ask another driver for advice,” he stated.
That said, Zilisch appears eager to be a sponge around experienced drivers. He is keen to learn the ropes and soak up wisdom from those who’ve been around the block.
Zilisch resonates with Joey Logano’s career
Zilisch admitted that, like many other drivers now, he grew up cheering for Jimmie Johnson and holds the seven-time champion in high regard. But when it comes to seeking inspiration, mentorship, or practical guidance, he finds himself more drawn to Team Penske’s Joey Logano.
Speaking on the Rubbin’ is Racing podcast, Zilisch noted that he sees shades of his own journey in Logano’s career. Logano also broke into the top-tier series at 18.
That parallel, he said, makes him eager to understand Logano’s mindset during those early years… From what missteps he made and the challenges he faced, to the lessons he learned the hard way.
Zilisch shared that hearing those stories firsthand could provide him with a valuable playbook to navigate his own path more wisely.
At the same time, Zilisch emphasized that his admiration for Johnson remains as strong as ever. He revealed that his appreciation has grown deeper with time, particularly as he has come to understand the grit behind Johnson’s unprecedented five-title streak.
While many might rest on their laurels after such success, Johnson, he noted, never let up. He returned to the track hungrier than before.
