20-year-old NASCAR Cup Collection rookie Connor Zilisch has signed a multi-year cope with Hendrick Motorsports, starting in 2028. He’ll pilot the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet and go away Trackhouse Racing within the rearview.
His present group employed Zilisch in January of 2024, and has been his solely residence since becoming a member of the Cup Collection.
“It is a bittersweet second for Trackhouse, however I’m really completely happy for Connor to get a possibility that many drivers solely dream of,” mentioned Justin Marks, founding father of Trackhouse Racing. “Whereas our objective was all the time to have him in our automobiles for the long run, I am nonetheless excited for the chance we now have with him now and in 2027.
“At Trackhouse, our mandate stays to work laborious, accomplish large issues with Connor whereas we now have him, and place this 88 Chevy group to maneuver into the 2028 NASCAR Cup season prepared for a brand new, inspiring, and gifted driver that can writer the following chapter on this superb e-book we’re writing. However not but.”
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
Picture by: Icon Sportswire through Getty Photos
As the one rookie candidate (as two-time race winner Corey Heim isn’t eligible), Zilisch is ready to win Rookie of the Yr honors in 2026, but it surely’s been a tough rookie season for the rising star. After a ten-win NASCAR O’Reilly season in 2025, his Cup marketing campaign has featured eight DNFs, only one high ten (a seventh at Sonoma), and he’s ranked thirty fourth of 35 full-time drivers within the championship standings (solely beating Cody Ware).
Trackhouse has been struggling as a corporation this yr, at the same time as Shane van Gisbergen is on the cusp of a Chase spot. Flagship driver Ross Chastain is having his worse season since becoming a member of the group in 2022, and Zilisch hasn’t had a lot to smile about both.
It is unclear what’s going to grow to be of the third seat at Trackhouse Racing. The group started as a single-car operation in 2021 with Daniel Suarez. They expanded to two-cars after buying Chip Ganassi Racing, bringing Chastain into the fold for 2022 and past.Â
The third full-time automotive was added in 2025 with Shane van Gisbergen, with Zilisch changing Suarez in 2026. Zane Smith was beforehand tied to the group as properly, however they minimize him unfastened in the summertime of 2024 whereas he drove for Spire.
Moreover, the present contracts for each Chastain and Van Gisbergen finish after the 2027 season.
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