Connor Zilisch is a name that’s lighting up NASCAR like a spark plug. At just 19, the kid’s already got a trophy case most veterans would envy. like winning his very first Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen in 2024. In that year, Hendrick Motorsports saw the potential and locked him into a development deal, tossing him into select Truck and Xfinity races.

It’s the kind of meteoric rise that draws comparisons to William Byron’s fast track, not the slow grind most drivers slog through. But with that speed comes skepticism. Is Zilisch being rushed too fast? NASCAR’s ladder system typically demands years in Trucks and Xfinity to hone skills, and history is littered with cautionary tales like Joey Logano’s rocky Cup debut at 18. Some observers simply wonder if he’s still too fresh for the top-level

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