AUSTIN, Texas — Meet Connor Zilisch, an 18-year-old NASCAR star ready to make waves. He’s younger than the beloved Pixar movie “Cars,” but his skills behind the wheel could leave even Lightning McQueen envious.
Connor is set to debut in the NASCAR Cup Series this Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas, a venue famous for hosting Formula One. Just yesterday, he secured his first victory of the season in the Xfinity Series, which has now placed him in the playoffs as a rookie. Not a bad start!
Despite the victory, the day was not without its bumps. Connor’s aggressive driving style got him into trouble, and he ended up sending apology texts to several drivers after some mistakes on the track caused damage to their cars. “I’m more frustrated with myself than happy,” he admitted. “I made way too many mistakes.”
It’s rare for someone as talented as Connor to have a day filled with errors. He was leading the race until a pit road penalty sent him to 32nd place. But using his skill and quick reflexes, he battled his way back to the front and won. “I’ve just got to drive at 80 percent at these places,” he said, recognizing the need for balance in his approach.
With a racing history that began in go-karts in Europe, Connor has competed against top talents in the motorsports world, even clinching a win in Italy against 163 drivers, including Kimi Antonelli, who is now a star in Formula One. However, lacking the funds for an F1 career, he returned to the U.S. and shifted gears to NASCAR, where he has already made a name for himself.
In just seven starts, Connor has won two Xfinity Series races, making him one of the youngest drivers ever to do so. As he prepares for the Cup Series, Connor has a chance to etch his name in history. No 18-year-old has ever won a Cup Series race, but after qualifying 14th ahead of several seasoned drivers, the possibility is there.
“It’s hard to set expectations when you haven’t done it before,” Connor said. This race will introduce him not only to the challenges of a new car but also to many drivers he has never faced before. But his past feats, like winning the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, demonstrate that he’s ready to rise to the occasion. During his Xfinity debut last year, he stunned everyone by winning, earning praises from established Cup drivers who recognized his talent.
As he gears up for this debut, Connor is excited about racing against heroes he grew up watching. “I want to enjoy it rather than be nervous,” he said. “You only get to make your Cup debut once, so I’m going to soak in every moment.”
Check out this related article: Israel Grants Temporary Ceasefire Extension: What You Need to Know About the Gaza Situation
Source linkMotorsports, NASCAR
