Let’s talk about Central Carolinas Region SCCA® member Connor Zilisch. Why? Because the motorsports world can’t stop talking about him either.
At age 15, Zilisch won SCCA’s 2021 Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year award after starting that year’s SCCA National Championship Runoffs® Spec Miata race in third and running to a third-place finish. That performance led to an invitation to the Mazda Motorsports MX-5 Cup Shootout, where he earned the $110,000 grand prize, putting him in the driver’s seat of a Mazda MX-5 Cup car the following year.
While he didn’t win the Mazda MX-5 Cup series in 2022 (he finished a close second, earning Rookie of the Year title in that series), his performance gathered attention, and before long he found himself behind the wheel of a Silver Hare Racing Trans Am TA2 car, running from last to first during the series’ 2023 double-header in Detroit.
This success didn’t come out of thin air. Fact is, his motorsports career began at age 5, and that led to Zilisch becoming the first American to win the FIA Karting Academy Championship – SCCA then bridged the gap from karts to cars.
The Trans Am last-lap victory, meanwhile, wasn’t where his story ended. In 2024, Zilisch landed a one-off NASCAR Xfinity ride driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the Watkins Glen round – and won. By season’s end, Zilisch had five ARCA Menards Series wins, a CARS Tour victory, and a Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona win in the LMP2 class. Now, Zilisch is Trackhouse Racing’s developmental driver.
“When it comes to spotting raw talent, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Justin Marks of Trackhouse Racing are as sharp as they come. Their latest discovery? An 18-year-old sensation named Connor Zilisch,” EssentiallySports recently reported in a profile on the young phenom. “This young driver isn’t just breaking records – he’s smashing expectations of what’s possible at his age. From dominating go-karts to shining in endurance races and delivering a stunning NASCAR Xfinity debut, Zilisch is quickly becoming the name on everyone’s lips in racing circles.”
The article recounts much of Zilisch’s career, offering credit to SCCA’s role in his driver development:
“Connor’s path through motorsport has been nothing short of remarkable. After cutting his teeth in the SCCA, he earned a Mazda scholarship to race in the MX-5 Cup. At just 15, he became the youngest driver in the 2022 season. Racing against seasoned veterans, Zilisch made an immediate impact, earning Rookie of the Year honors and coming heartbreakingly close to clinching the championship in a dramatic finale.”
What’s next for Zilisch? 2025 will see the SCCA alum competing in a full season of the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports. This comes on top of driving for Trackhouse at IMSA’s Rolex 24 and, EssentiallySports adds, the potential of ARCA and Trans Am races.
“Connor Zilisch isn’t just a rising star – he’s a budding force to be reckoned with,” the article concluded. “At 18, he’s already accomplished more than many drivers do in a lifetime. Whether it’s the patience from endurance racing or the adaptability honed in karting, every step of his journey has prepared him for the bright future ahead. And as he heads into 2025, one thing is certain: Connor Zilisch is just getting started.”
Photo courtesy ConnorZilisch.com
