The 2024 NASCAR season witnessed the impressive racing prowess of Trackhouse Racing prodigy Connor Zilisch. He made his Truck Series and Xfinity Series debut this season and also won his maiden NASCAR race outclassing the whole garage. The youngster has also landed a full-time seat for the 2025 season.
Connor Zilisch will drive the No:88 Chevy with JR Motorsports and has already proven he deserves the seat with the Watkins Glen win, on his debut. Now Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin has shared his view on the JRM drivers’ future and pointed out that he is a sure-fire thing for the future and asserted that the youngster has been very competitive against the veterans in the series.
I’d say it’s probably a sure-fire thing, just because he’s got enough experience on ovals. He still did quite a bit of oval racing as well, and certainly, if you look at the results in the competitive series that he’s run, he’s still, you know — he’s not as fast over the field when we go to ovals, but he’s still competitive, competing against veterans that have been doing it quite some time.
Denny Hamlin said via Actions Detrimental.
While further talking on the point, Hamlin pointed out that it isn’t guaranteed that the No:88 team can superiorly number of races, but believes there is a possibility that the youngster can win around five races. Hamlin’s prediction is based on how good the JRM cars and the drivers past.
So, will he go win 12 races next year in Xfinity? No, I don’t think so. But I mean, could he win four or five? Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s a very feasible goal considering, you know, the car he’s in and what he’s going to be capable of.
Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin explains how Connor Zilisch has an upper hand on Shane van Gisbergen
In the same discussion, Hamlin also explained that Zilisch has an advantage over SVG and would be the better pick for the coming season. His argument is based on the fact that they have similar road racing prowess, and the youngster is better at Ovals.
I think Connor’s got a leg up on (SVG), if you had to ask me to pick one of the two. Connor, just because I think he’s more well-versed in the ovals than what SVG is. But I think when you look at what their capability is on road courses, I consider them equals right now. This is just my opinion right now.
Denny Hamlin said.
Once Zilisch makes into the Cup series, he will surely be a championship contender and among the driver to beat every week. It will be interesting to see how fast he can make it into the top tier stock car racing.
