"That's not going to be me" - Connor Zilisch cites Jimmie Johnson as inspiration, talks big goals with JR Motorsports

Young racing phenom Connor Zilisch recently shared his ambitious goals and revealed his admiration for seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The 18-year-old is quickly making a name for himself across various racing circuits and is set to race full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports in 2025.

It was recently announced, in an episode of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s podcast, "Dale Jr. Download," that Zilisch will race full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season, driving the #88 Chevrolet for JRM.

In the episode, Zilisch talked about his desire to not get complacent. He mentioned that he wants to work hard, unlike some drivers who relax after early success.

"Some guys get to the top and then they get kind of complacent with where they're at. You know, you have all these kids that are coming up, and, you know, you see them winning these races, and then they kind of stop working hard because they feel like they're doing enough, and that's not going to be me," Zilisch said.

Zilisch emphasized his unwavering determination to continue pushing himself even after achieving multiple wins, citing Jimmie Johnson's relentless work ethic as a major source of inspiration. He also talked about his various goals for the future.

"The thing I kind of point to that kind of motivates me is Jimmie Johnson, you know. He wins two, three, four championships and doesn't stop being the hardest worker out there," he said.

"I want to continue to work hard. I'm still a long way from where I want to be, and, you know, I want to make it to the Cup Series. I want to be a champion in the Cup Series, and, you know, that's the goal for everyone, right? But there's a lot of work to get there," he added.

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Connor Zilisch's NASCAR success and F1 dreams

Zilisch made a strong impression in his ARCA Menards Series debut last year, leading the majority of the race at Watkins Glen before ultimately finishing second after a late-race incident.

He is currently signed as a development driver for Trackhouse Racing and has won major races like the 24 Hours of Daytona at the IMSA Rolex and the 12 Hours of Sebring. This year, he competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series, among others.

Zilisch also performed well in his first NASCAR Truck Series race. He broke a track record and came in fourth place.

In the aforementioned episode, he also stated that he initially dreamed of racing in Formula One. He had to change direction as he couldn’t secure the required sponsorship. He even had talks with Ferrari but decided to shift his focus to NASCAR.