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Teen Sensation Connor Zilisch Is the Most Hyped NASCAR Rookie Since Possibly Jeff Gordon

Trackhouse Racing promoted Zilisch into its Cup lineup, and he will make his Daytona 500 debut on Feb. 15.
Zilisch won a series-high 10 races last year but lost the title in the winner-take-all finale to Jesse Love, then scored class wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2024.
At Trackhouse, van Gisbergen and McLaughlin form a strong pairing for road courses, with Ross Chastain saying he is eager to help Zilisch and the team.
The teenager is being described as the most hyped rookie in decades, with peers comparing him to Kyle Busch and Joey Logano for his youth and raw speed.
Saying he wants to compete and win, Connor Zilisch said `He’s jumping in everything and performing at very high levels`, and observers noted Trackhouse appears suitable for his development.

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Teen sensation Connor Zilisch is the most hyped NASCAR rookie since possibly Jeff Gordon

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Connor Zilisch knows that he won’t just be compared to the drivers he will race against in 2026. The Trackhouse Racing driver won 10 races last year in NASCAR’s top developmental series. So there’s a reason for all the hype. Could he have the best rookie season of all-time? The 19-year-old is trying not to look at it that way, especially in an era where there is virtually no testing except for an occasional test at a new track or a tire test. Pr…

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