Watkins Glen is the observe the place Connor Zilisch, as a 16-year-old in 2023, dominated his ARCA Menards Collection debut, earlier than Jesse Love bumped him off the ultimate nook in a last-lap, last-turn transfer to steal the win. Nonetheless, Zilisch’s efficiency turned extra heads, as he ran a lot of the race with a damaged entrance sway bar. A yr later, in 2024, Watkins Glen gave him the whole lot: the pole, the lead, the win, in his very first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Components Collection begin, making him the primary driver in over three years to win of their collection debut. After which, in 2025, it gave him the win once more, solely to one-up Zilisch once more.
“I’ve discovered my lesson there. If I do this once more, we’ve acquired large points,” Zilisch instructed Bob Pockrass, revealing his preparations for the weekend. This has at all times been a particular observe for the teenager. Though it’s removed from being his residence race, however it’s the consequence that he manages to drag off.
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After claiming his sixth Xfinity win of the season at The Glen final August, Zilisch stood atop his automobile in Victory Lane. His foot caught the window netting, and he fell headfirst onto the bottom, helmet-less. The consequence was a damaged collarbone, surgical procedure to put in a plate and screws, and a compelled withdrawal from the Cup Collection race the next day, the place SVG would go on to dominate.
SVG, ever the Trackhouse teammate, couldn’t resist the joke afterward: commenting that it might’ve been “4 Trackhouse automobiles within the prime 10 if Connor didn’t do gymnastics.” Now, Zilisch is again at Watkins Glen, wholesome, wiser, and with three automobiles to drive throughout three days.
Heading into the weekend, Zilisch is operating full-time within the NASCAR Cup Collection for Trackhouse Racing within the No. 88 Chevrolet, a trip he earned after a historic 2025 O’Reilly Collection marketing campaign that included ten wins, a record-breaking 18 consecutive top-five finishes, and a runner-up championship end.
He’s additionally making part-time O’Reilly Collection begins for JR Motorsports within the No. 1 automobile, and has been confirmed to run the Truck Collection race for Spire Motorsports within the No. 71 Chevrolet, which will likely be his first Truck begin of the 2026 season.
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“I imply, clearly, that place has at all times handled me effectively, aside from that, so I’m excited to attempt to get a win there within the Cup Collection and attempt to get a truck win as effectively. And clearly attempt to go for the three-peat with JRM,” he mentioned, talking on his expectations this yr.
That might be a landmark achievement, contemplating that it will be his third consecutive victory at The Glen within the NOAPS. He is available in with momentum on that entrance, having already received at Bristol Motor Speedway earlier this season for JRM, his twelfth profession collection win.
On the Cup facet, although, the image is much less rosy. Driving the No. 88 for Trackhouse, Zilisch is but to crack a prime 10 in 11 begins this season, sitting thirty third in factors with 124. The case is considerably comparable within the Truck Collection as effectively. Whereas he has been aggressive, he hasn’t received a race.
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Nonetheless, it isn’t a serious concern, contemplating he has by no means run the collection on a full-time foundation. However heading to a Truck Race for the primary time this yr, Zilisch will likely be accompanied by his teammate, too.
Zilisch hopes to study from his teammate at Watkins Glen
Regardless of the shortage of success that Zilisch has had within the Truck Collection, the upcoming race could possibly be totally different.
“Shane and I are each doing all three, so trying ahead to attending to race in opposition to him in all three collection there, and excited to attempt to study from him and hopefully have a very good day on Sunday,” he mentioned.
SVG will even be tackling all three NASCAR collection in a single weekend. For the O’Reilly Collection, SVG will drive the No. 9 JR Motorsports entry, the identical automobile he already took to victory at COTA earlier this season. For the Truck race, he joins Niece Motorsports within the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado.
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And van Gisbergen’s highway course authority within the Cup Collection is effectively documented by now. In his rookie 2025 season, he joined Chase Elliott and Jeff Gordon as the one drivers in Cup historical past to win 4 straight. Heading into 2026, he stood on the verge of tying Gordon’s report of six consecutive highway course wins, set between 1997 and 2000. He got here inside 3.9 seconds of it at COTA in March, ending second to Tyler Reddick.
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 15: Shane Van Gisbergen 97 TrackHouse Racing SuperFile Chevrolet waves to the gang previous to the operating of the 68th NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Collection Daytona 500 on February 15, 2026 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in Daytona Seashore, FL. Photograph by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 15 NASCAR Cup Collection Daytona 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2602151738500
Gisbergen can also be the defending Watkins Glen Cup winner, successful the 2025 race by over 11 seconds, the second-largest margin of victory in Watkins Glen historical past. That provides him a formidable blueprint coming in, and the stress of going for what can be his first Cup win of the 2026 season.
The adaptability that SVG has proven throughout Supercars, IMSA, and NASCAR could possibly be invaluable for Zilisch as he adjusts to the burden, really feel, and braking calls for of a Cup truck. Whether or not Zilisch can carry that studying into Sunday’s Cup race, the place Trackhouse has struggled in opposition to the Toyota onslaught, stays the true open query of the weekend.
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What isn’t in query is whether or not he’ll be celebrating with gymnastics. That lesson, not less than, has been totally discovered.
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