“Very wise beyond his years”: Connor Zilisch’s hype after JRM announcement justified by NASCAR Insider

Jeff Gluck has opined that Connor Zilisch's maturity is more than what usually is in an 18-year-old person. With Zilisch's full-time deal with JR Motorsports starting next year, the NASCAR insider presented his view and justified the hype around the teenager.

Zilisch stepped into the NASCAR Truck Series this year, with his debut run at the Circuit of The Americas. The Spire Motorsports driver recently turned 18 on July 22 and thus, is barred from participating in any NASCAR event on a full-time schedule this season.

Nonetheless, from his only NASCAR race so far, the Trackhouse Racing's development driver set the stage with the fastest qualifying speed on the 3.426-mile circuit. Moreover, he bagged a fourth-place finish, registering his first top-5 in the debut run.

While Zilisch can't race full-time this year, he forayed into other motorsport disciplines and outshined his rivals. On his first attempt, the North Carolina native bagged the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring win. He has also collected five ARCA Menards victories in 2024.

However, with his early success, the pressure to perform in NASCAR is mounting. But Jeff Gluck is affirmative that JRM's Xfinity Series driver is mature enough to handle the transition.

"I'd typically be worried about it but Connor Zilisch seems extremely mature to me, very wise beyond his years. We've seen people come in with a lot of hype where it's like, 'Well, could they make this transition, right?' Thing is, Connor Zilisch comes in and he's already winning on ovalsrvery very very quickly. Like he didn't really take the time to have to get up to speed much," Gluck said via Dirty Mo Media on X (0:36).

"The talent is there, the abilities are there. Personally, I think the hype is very justified from what I've seen so far. There's a lot of impressive things, there's a lot to like about him, and looking forward to see what he does," he added (0:57).

In addition to Gluck's confidence in Zilisch's abilities, former F1 driver and double 24 Hours of Daytona winner Max Papis is convinced that the NASCAR newbie has a racing intellect that "cannot be taught."

Max Papis praises Connor Zilisch's "racing intellect" ahead of the latter's second Truck Series run

Connor Zilisch is set to register his second Truck Series run, today, at the Richmond Raceway. Moreover, before starting his full-time Xfinity Series schedule next year, the 18-year-old will be battling in four races for JRM this season.

His debut NXS run will kick off at Watkins Glen International on September 14, followed by Kansas Speedway on September 28, Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 26, and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway on November 9.

Amid his confirmed deal with JRM and the upcoming Truck Series race, former F1 driver Max Papis gave his take on Zilisch's "racing intellect." In his motorsports career, Papis has raced in several top events such as Formula 1, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Champ Car, among others.

"Connor has something that cannot be taught, that is a racing intellect. Speed comes from god, what makes a real champion is the ability of using the processor, that is up here [brain]. 40% [is] for driving and 60% for everything else. I've seen that in Connor," Papis said via Dirty Mo Media on X (0:10).

With Connor Zilisch set to see an increase in his schedule, do you think NASCAR's rising star will live up to the hype?