Dale Earnhardt Jr. hints at considering 17-year-old NASCAR prodigy Connor Zilisch to drive for JRM in 2025 Xfinity Series

Connor Zilisch is reportedly under consideration for fielding Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s car in the Xfinity Series next season. The racing prodigy has showcased promising displays, rapidly climbing the ladder of success in high-octane motorsports.

The North Carolina native began go-karting at five years old in 2011. After proving his finesse in racing karts for a decade, Zilisch marked his switch to the Global Cup and Trans AM series in 2021. The following year, he ventured into Late Models and raked in a couple of wins before entering the ARCA Menards Series in 2023.

This year, the 17-year-old entered the NASCAR scene as a development driver for Trackhouse Racing in the Truck Series in collaboration with Spire Motorsports. Because Connor Zilisch is not 18 yet, he can't participate full-time and can only gain experience through part-time Truck and Xfinity Series racing. He will mark his debut Xfinity Series run for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s JR Motorsports at Watkins Glen in September this year.

Zilisch debuted at the Circuit of The Americas in the 2024 XPEL 225 and set the fastest qualifying lap. Furthermore, he finished 6th in Stage 2 and came home with a top-5 on his debut NASCAR run. The prodigy has secured several wins across various disciplines he's stepped into.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was impressed by the debutant's "insane" run and expressed his belief in Zilisch's bright motorsports future.

“Connor Zilisch comes in, sets a new track record, right? Qualifies on the pole well clear of the rest of the field... He’s doing it all and what he’s 17 still? So, it’s insane. This kid has the runway to become a multi-time NASCAR Cup champion. The runway is right there in front of him," Earnhardt Jr. said, via Dirty Mo Media on YouTube (16.00).

Some noteworthy achievements collected by the young driver include two wins in the ARCA Menards, three in the ARCA Menards Series East, and triumphing in the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona sports car race, among several others.

With that, his long list of triumphs might land him in a full-time seat on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team.

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"Massive success and potential ahead"- Dale Earnhardt Jr. impressed by Connor Zilisch's debut run at COTA

Even though Connor Zilisch was the polesitter for the 46-lap dash, he lost his position as soon as the race was green-flagged and the pack entered the highly-elevated Turn 1 at COTA. The #7 Spire Motorsports driver went straight off the race track with a flat left front tire.

After donning fresh rubber on Lap 2, Zilisch resumed his run but suffered another hindrance as his front sway bar was being changed. As a result, the debutant was one lap down on Lap 6 and hence couldn't collect a promising Stage 1 finish. However, he climbed the charts and finished sixth in the second stage.

Nonetheless, disappointment knocked on the 17-year-old's door again as he was slapped with a penalty for cutting course in Turn 3 from fourth on Lap 35. Still, with nearly 11 laps remaining for the race to wrap up, Zilisch resurrected his dominance and finished fourth in COTA.

Speaking about Zilisch's potential, Dale Earnhardt Jr. added:

"Not many people are getting all of this experience at this age, right? If everything goes well and he keeps his head on straight, massive success and potential ahead.”

After the remarkable COTA run, Connor Zilisch's schedule has been extended by three additional Truck races, and he will compete in a total of five NCTS races this season. Additionally, he will field Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 car in NXS.