For young drivers, racing dreams begin with a love for speed. But as they move ahead and climb the ladder of the motorsports career, they realize that only passion is not enough to make it into the world of racing. Sometimes, more than we would assume, financial burdens and lack of resources come in the way of raw talent. We have heard the tales of parents taking on multiple jobs, mortgaging their houses, and sponsors pulling out, shattering the hopes and dreams of young talents.
Every young kid racing in small go-karts on dusty tracks, dreams of racing one day on the great esses of Formula 1 or high banking ovals of NASCAR, but the reality is often not so kind. One of these young talents who is currently making a name for himself is Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports Xfinity Series star, Connor Zilisch. The recent Xfinity COTA winner spoke about his journey to the top and his ambitions and struggles along the way.
Beyond the glamor: From fantasies to realities
In a recent interview with Kevin Harvick, Zilisch shed some light on the challenges that young drivers like him face when climbing the ladder of motorsports. “Yeah, honestly, I knew that F1 was impossible,” he admitted. “I went overseas and quickly learned that if you don’t have 10 million, $15 million in your parent’s bank account, then you’re not going to go race F1 or you have zero shot at it.” Zilisch’s raw and unfiltered admission highlighted the financial burden young drivers and their families must face if they want to make it to the big leagues of Formula 1.
The 18-year-old raced karts from 2011 to 2021 before making the move to cars at the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in the Spec Miata class. However, before that, he proved his mettle in karting by winning the CIK-FIA Karting Academy trophy in 2020. After success in the karting world, Zilisch was sure that he wanted to be a racer for a living.
“I just wanted to race cars and, and make enough money to have a house and be able to eat… I didn’t care if it was making 60 grand a year, racing cars 30 weekends or, you know, racing in NASCAR where it’s a completely different world.” After facing these financial hurdles, Zilisch has maybe realized that making a modest living as a professional race car driver is a monumental achievement. This, while troubling, leads to a very important question: Is the world of motorsports relying on money more than raw talent?
Connor Zilisch continued, “I never knew about NASCAR until I really met you [Kevin Harvick] and got introduced to it, and it quickly struck my interest, and I’ve quickly found a passion for it. I didn’t realize how intricate and difficult it was… Being a part of the Chevrolet development program taught me a lot about how much it does take to be at the top level of any level of Motorsports… it’s opened my eyes a lot to not only NASCAR, but the entire world of Motorsports.” His honest assessment of the motorsport landscape, combined with his appreciation for Harvick’s role in his career in NASCAR, shows the importance of mentorship in navigating the hard world of professional motorsports.
Kevin Harvick signed Connor Zilisch to his Rackley W.A.R. roster for Late Model races in 2023. Zilisch had already made a stunning name for himself at that point, clinching Rookie of the Year honors in the Mazda MX-5 Cup and finishing second in points in 2022. This was also around the time he was in the Chevrolet junior driver program under former NASCAR team owner Lorin Ranier.
Ranier even spoke highly of Zilisch back in 2023, saying, “Connor is one of the most naturally talented young drivers I have ever seen, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have worked with some of the best in NASCAR and its feeder series.” The North Carolina native was always a star in the making; all he needed was the right guidance, and who better than 2014 Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick!
The role of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Harvick shines as a beacon of hope in the harsh world of racing. Many young drivers like Connor Zilisch often find themselves seeking guidance and looking for an opportunity to prove their worth. The helping hand of such racing legends and other driver development programs can be just the lifeline some raw talents, lost navigating the world of professional racing, might need. But as Zilisch continues to rise with help from Harvick and Earnhardt Jr., one cannot help but wonder, what’s next for this young star?
Connor Zilisch can do it all!
Connor Zilisch’s rapid rise in the world of NASCAR has led to questions being raised about his potential to become the racing world’s next multidiscipline star. With wins at 24 Hours at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in the LMP2 class in his first attempt, and his success in the NASCAR Xfinity series with wins at Watkins Glen and COTA, only adds to showcasing his versatility and his talent.
Connor Zilisch’s run at Watkins Glen in the Xfinity Series was particularly special, as it was his debut Xfinity race. Understandably, the kid was over the moon. “I worked so hard for this one,” a smiling Zilisch said, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ve been working for this one for months and it’s so special to me, man. I don’t even have words.”
His triumph in the LMP2 class at the Rolex 24 in 2024 made him the second youngest driver to clinch those honors at just 17 years and 191 days old. It was prior to this that he signed a contract with Trackhouse Racing as a developmental driver and was scheduled to run ARCA races, in which he excelled as well! Driving for Pinnacle Racing Group, Connor Zilisch notched up 4 wins and 7 top-10 finishes in just 8 ARCA Menards East Series races, solidifying his status as a serious talent ready for the stock car world.
This ability to adapt, overcome, and achieve success has often been claimed as the hallmark of successful multi-disciplinary drivers such as Mario Andretti, who won championships in Formula 1 and IndyCar. Or Jim Clark, the legendary driver who won two Formula One World Championships and the Indianapolis 500. At only 18 years of age, the sky is the limit for Connor Zilisch, and the whole world is eager to watch what becomes of one of NASCAR’s brightest talents. Here’s to more success for the young superstar!
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