Zilisch grateful but eager to build from a challenging rookie Cup Series campaign

Connor Zilisch hasn’t had the NASCAR Cup Series rookie season he hoped for, but that doesn’t diminish his gratitude for the experience.

“First of all, the opportunity,” Zilisch said at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he will wrap up Rookie of the Year honors with Sunday’s race. “I don’t think many drivers in a long time have raced in the Cup Series at 20 years old. So, the fact that I was able to do this at this age and get a jump start on it, it hasn’t been great, but I’d rather learn it at a young age than wait until later.”

The quick, expected promotion with Trackhouse Racing came after one full season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where Zilisch went on a tear with 10 wins, over 1,000 laps led, and a season-average finish of 8.0. Zilisch also won Rookie of the Year honors in the series against a stacked field that included Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray and Christian Eckes.

“I’m grateful to (Trackhouse boss) Justin Marks for believing in me and Red Bull, and everybody who was a part of it, for giving me the opportunity,” he continued. “I’ve tried to take in every experience, whether it was walking out and seeing how many fans were in the stands. I still remember the Daytona 500, walking out with Jimmie Johnson, and it was like my childhood dream. It was kind of crazy.

“So, yeah, at the end of the day I’m still living out my dream, and I’m grateful for everything that I’ve been able to do. But it’s tough to remember that sometimes.”

The learning curve has been hellish on Zilisch. As the organization has struggled to regain its footing from having a championship contender in Ross Chastain a few seasons ago, those battles have affected all three team cars. Zilisch has also had to adjust to the depth of competition at the Cup Series level and to races that are simply much harder to navigate given the length, competition, car, more pit stops, and so forth.

Zilisch has languished outside the top 30 in points all season. He has failed to finish 10 races, including an incredibly cruel stretch during the summer in which he earned one point at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway while completing only 131 of the 873 total laps.

“I’d be lying if I said it was what I had hoped for,” Zilisch said. “It certainly hasn’t been a picture-perfect season by any means, but I’m just glad the last few months we’ve started to show some growth, and I feel like I’ve gotten better as the year has gone on. It’s certainly taken time, and there have been some rough patches for me, for sure, and that’s mentally and inside the race car taken a toll on me.”

Admittedly, Zilisch didn’t realize how hard it was at the Cup Series level. Add to that, Zilisch has had a fortunately successful career on his way upward as someone who expected to win and be the guy to beat. This season, Zilisch has had a new experience: keeping himself and his team motivated while focusing on achievable goals.

“But these last few months I feel like we’ve been qualifying better, running better, and at least in the game. Staying on the lead lap and doing the basics,” he said. “So, hopefully we can continue that going into next year, but yeah, certainly not the year I hoped for or wanted. But I’m proud of myself for sticking through it and getting some results on the back end.”

In the last 13 races, Zilisch has qualified inside the top 20 nine times. Those efforts turned into eight top-25 finishes and four top-20 finishes.

Zilisch was the only rookie candidate this season in his No. 88 Chevrolet.

“I hope the stat sheets never show how many were racing for it in parentheses next year because if that happens, it’ll be a little embarrassing,” Zilisch said. “I guess I have to accept my award and take it. … It’s kind of just comical after the year that I’ve had to have to go to the banquet and collect an award. I feel like I shouldn’t be going, but here we are. I’ll take it.”

Trackhouse Racing has produced the last two Cup Series Rookie of the Year winners. Shane van Gisbergen won the award last season over Riley Herbst.