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Chevrolet's role in Connor Zilisch’s Cup promotion revealed by Trackhouse Racing co-owner

Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks credits Chevrolet’s early financial backing for securing Connor Zilisch’s future in the NASCAR Cup Series

Connor Zilisch and Parker Kligerman, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Connor Zilisch and Parker Kligerman, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

Just hours before the NASCAR Cup regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks discussed the important role Chevrolet had in securing and retaining Connor Zilisch. This comes as the young driver has been confirmed to be racing in the Cup Series with a multi-year deal with the team.

Speaking at the superspeedway to Alt Driverwhere it was confirmed that Zilisch would be Trackhouse's third full-time Cup driver for next year, Marks discussed the role Chevrolet played in his rise. 

"We went to Chevy and said, 'We want to bring this kid in, we want to fund him in the Xfinity series.' We didn't really have a sponsor signed yet, so after we made the monetary commitment to put him in at JRM, it was after that that we signed WeatherTech."

The semi-retired racing driver continued, adding that it was Chevrolet's financial backing which allowed the team to fully flesh out Zilisch's talents.

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

"But it was also Chevrolet making the investment that gave us some momentum and allowed us to do that. It's important. The OEMs, we feel that they need to control some of their future as well and allocate funding and resources to the next generation of drivers.

"So we pushed really hard with Connor, and luckily for us, they made that commitment. I think the fact that Chevy made the commitment to give him the opportunity at JRM is not lost on him. He's a loyal kid, and I think that he's a big part of Chevrolet's future."

This loyalty looks to be well-founded, with the 19-year-old boasting an impressive Xfinity career after starting racing in the series in late 2024, driving for JR Motorsports while being under Trackhouse Racing's driver development program. 

He quickly became a standout driver.

Dr Eric Warren, GM's vice president of Global Motorsports Competition, was highly complimentary.

"He got wrecked in a Trans Am race at Detroit a couple of years ago. How he responded, how he acted, how he came back the next day and won...

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"Even Phoenix last year in the (Xfinity Series) championship race. If you go back and look - he was right there in the mix with everybody towards the end - his car control in that situation.

"I mean, it's just things you see there like, 'Okay, he's not just fast. He doesn't just speak well.' In the moment, he can maintain the speed and the awareness. And when you hear things with champions, like when it all slows down for them, all those elements is really what separates him."

Photos from Daytona - Race

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

General view

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

General view

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet, Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

Multi-car wreck

Daytona - Saturday, in photos

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