Teen sensation Connor Zilisch is the most hyped NASCAR rookie since possibly Jeff Gordon
February 5, 2026
Connor Zilisch is only 19 years old and has been racing just a few years. But he’s shown to be fast and adaptable in everything he’s driven and might be the most hyped rookie since Jeff Gordon in 1992. He won 10 races last year at NASCAR’s second-tier national series and heads to his first Daytona 500 next week. He’s coming off a second-place finish at the Rolex 24 at Daytona as well as a stint in The Clash, where he was one of the few drivers pushing to race in sleeting conditions.