Zilisch builds on Trans Am success with move to NASCAR Xfinity

The announcement earlier today that Connor Zilisch will be racing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports in 2025 continues a rapid climb up the pro racing passer for the 18-year-old.

Zilisch made his Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli debut at VIRginia International Raceway at the end of the 2021 season, earning the pole in his first start in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series. He went on to compete in TA2 full time in both 2022 and 2023, breaking through with his first win at Road Atlanta in 2023. He went on to win four more TA2 races that season -- Detroit Race 2, Music City Grand Prix at Nashville, World Wide Technology Raceway and VIR. The same weekend as his TA2 victory from the pole at VIR, Zilisch also made his debut in Trans Am’s TA class, earning the pole and the win for a weekend sweep.

Zilisch kicked off the 2024 TA2 season with a victory at Sebring International Raceway. Outside of the Trans Am paddock, he has been forging a name for himself in all forms of motorsports. He started the year with an LMP2 win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and followed that up with a victory in the same class in the 12 Hours of Sebring. He has earned three ARCA Menards Series wins (Dover Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park), and one ARCA East win (Flat Rock Speedway), and earned a pole and top-five finish in his NASCAR Truck Series debut at Circuit of The Americas.

Zilisch also tallied a victory in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour at Hickory Motor Speedway. He has a multi-year development contract with Trackhouse Racing and Chevrolet, and is scheduled to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with JR Motorsports at Watkins Glen International later this year.