20-year-old NASCAR Cup Collection rookie Connor Zilisch has signed a multi-year take care of Hendrick Motorsports, starting in 2028. He’ll pilot the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet and depart Trackhouse Racing within the rearview.
His present workforce employed Zilisch in January of 2024, and has been his solely house since becoming a member of the Cup Collection.
“It is a bittersweet second for Trackhouse, however I’m really pleased for Connor to get a chance that many drivers solely dream of,” stated Justin Marks, founding father of Trackhouse Racing. “Whereas our aim was all the time to have him in our automobiles for the long run, I am nonetheless excited for the chance we have now with him now and in 2027.
“At Trackhouse, our mandate stays to work onerous, accomplish massive issues with Connor whereas we have now him, and place this 88 Chevy workforce to maneuver into the 2028 NASCAR Cup season prepared for a brand new, inspiring, and proficient driver that may writer the following chapter on this superb ebook we’re writing. However not but.”
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing
Picture by: Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs
As the one rookie candidate (as two-time race winner Corey Heim will not be eligible), Zilisch is ready to win Rookie of the 12 months honors in 2026, but it surely’s been a tough rookie season for the rising star. After a ten-win NASCAR O’Reilly season in 2025, his Cup marketing campaign has featured eight DNFs, only one high ten (a seventh at Sonoma), and he’s ranked thirty fourth of 35 full-time drivers within the championship standings (solely beating Cody Ware).
Trackhouse has been struggling as a corporation this 12 months, whilst Shane van Gisbergen is on the cusp of a Chase spot. Flagship driver Ross Chastain is having his worse season since becoming a member of the workforce in 2022, and Zilisch hasn’t had a lot to smile about both.
It is unclear what’s going to change into of the third seat at Trackhouse Racing. The workforce started as a single-car operation in 2021 with Daniel Suarez. They expanded to two-cars after buying Chip Ganassi Racing, bringing Chastain into the fold for 2022 and past.
The third full-time automobile was added in 2025 with Shane van Gisbergen, with Zilisch changing Suarez in 2026. Zane Smith was beforehand tied to the workforce as nicely, however they minimize him free in the summertime of 2024 whereas he drove for Spire.
Moreover, the present contracts for each Chastain and Van Gisbergen finish after the 2027 season.
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