Connor Zilisch, who is storming through his rookie Xfinity campaign, will take the Cup Series leap next year. Fans and veterans like Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin have voiced confidence in his ability to fight it out with the big boys. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes the top tier will present a steep learning curve for the 19-year-old.
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Junior predicts that Zilisch will struggle at first in the Next Gen car, unlike how he has fared so far in the Xfinity Series. He has won nine races in 26 starts in NASCAR’s second tier.
But once Zilisch masters the nuances like dirty air, brushing the wall, and working through repairs, Dale Jr. predicts him to thrive in style.
“I think he’ll be midpack a lot… Trackhouse has this sort of hot and cold vibe. They run the [Coca-Cola] 600, fastest car there by far, and then disappear for a while,” said Dale Jr.
“Now, they obviously have good speed at the road courses, and I think that since SVG [Shane van Gisbergen] is there and kind of understands and is getting better at making the Next Gen car what it needs to be,” he added.
Van Gisbergen is now experienced enough to identify what the car requires. So Zilisch will only benefit from joining the team in what seems to be the right time. Both drivers excel on road courses, and Dale Jr. sees that as Zilisch’s best shot for making a mark early.
“Connor, too, can then start to improve on the car. So, wouldn’t be surprised if Connor battles for a win at a road course. I think that’s not stepping out of bounds. But everywhere else, he’s learning an entirely new car,” added Junior.
Several drivers have shone in the Xfinity Series only to hit a wall when moving up to Cup. Noah Gragson is the latest case in point.
Between 2019 and 2022, he stacked up 13 wins in four full-time Xfinity seasons, including eight wins and a runner-up finish in his final year. But in two Cup seasons, he has managed only three top-five finishes.
That’s why Junior stressed the importance of patience. Just as Chase Briscoe found his footing at Joe Gibbs Racing only half a season after moving from Stewart-Haas Racing, Zilisch must also brace himself for “rough” waters in year one.
