Connor Zilisch making NASCAR Truck Series debut at COTA with Spire Motorsports
A big week of news for Connor Zilisch. The 17-year-old phenom is going to suit up with Spire Motorsports at COTA next week. Zilisch will make his NASCAR Truck Series debut in the No. 7 truck that already has a win this season.
Connor Zilisch is a winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which he captured earlier this year. He is also in the midst of chasing a championship in the Mazda MX-5 Cup. On top of that, Zilisch has already announced he will make his Xfinity Series debut later this year with JR Motorsports.
Of course, Zilisch is a Trackhouse Racing development driver. Without an Xfinity or Truck Series team or their own, Trackhouse seems to have worked out some deals with quality teams to put Zilisch in the best position possible when he gets behind the wheel.
If you have not seen this kid race, then you need to soon. You will tell what all of the hype is about pretty quickly.
Connor Zilisch has cut his teeth road racing. Of course, with his 24 Hours of Daytona victory, he is already quite an accomplished wheelman. Spending most of his time in the Trans-Am TA2 class, Zilisch has amassed 10 victories in the series so far.
“I can’t wait to make my NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Circuit of the America’s, as well as other select races with Spire Motorsports this year,” Zilisch said in a statement. “Spire has obviously had a lot of success already this year, so I know that I’m getting into winning equipment. I’ve been doing a lot of preparation for COTA, and I feel that it’s a track that suits my style. I can’t wait to get to work with these guys and hopefully, get my No. 7 Austin Hatcher Foundation Chevy Silverado to Victory Lane.”
Connor Zilisch will make Truck Series starts at Talladega later this year as well as the Homestead-Miami playoff race.
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Connor Zilisch helping strengthen bonds between Trackhouse, Spire
Right now, there is something going on that I like to call the Trackhouse Racing Expanded Universe. It is no secret that the organization has five talented drivers signed to contracts and only two Cup Series rides.
As drivers like Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch develop their skills in NASCAR, they need rides in the Truck and Xfinity Series to do it. Last year, SVG made his Truck Series debut at the IRP oval with Niece Motorsports.
This year, SVG is racing under the Kaulig banner. Zane Smith is piloting the third Spire Motorsports Cup car. We see Daniel Suárez making Xfinity starts with Kaulig support, Ross Chastain races for Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series, and now Connor Zilisch is joining Spire for his Truck Series debut.
Niece, Kaulig, Spire – those are the teams in the Trackhouse Racing Expanded Universe. They are organizations that work closely with Trackhouse to get these drivers extra time on track. It is a system that has so far worked out to their advantage. Now with Zilisch in the Xfinity Series, you could add JR Motorsports to that sphere of influence.
Trackhouse Racing is doing things their own way right now. They are going to sign the drivers that they want and put them where they think they can succeed.