Connor Zilisch returns to NASCAR after injury, delivering an impressive second-place finish in the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2025, just two weeks after a crash at Talladega Superspeedway sidelined him. Zilisch, a rising star for JR Motorsports, now sets his sights on making history as the youngest driver in the upcoming Coca-Cola 600.
Zilisch’s Comeback Performance at Charlotte
After his accident on the final lap at Talladega, where contact with Jesse Love sent him crashing into the inside wall and resulted in a back injury, Zilisch sat out the following race at Texas Motor Speedway. Kyle Larson took over his seat for that event, claiming victory, before Zilisch returned for the BetMGM 300. Back in the Xfinity Series, Zilisch quickly regained form, securing the second spot in qualifying, just behind Taylor Gray in his toyota/”>Toyota.
During the race, the JR Motorsports driver maintained his strong position throughout, finishing the first stage in his starting place and wrapping up stage two in third behind the defending champion. Ultimately, he crossed the line second, behind William Byron, who took the win for Hendrick Motorsports. In a post-race media session, Zilisch reflected positively on his team’s efforts and the significance of his return:
“I felt really good. Sometimes, it’s good to get a few weeks off and reset. Really proud of this group. We had a really good car today. Just came up a little bit short, but we’ll go get them next week at Nashville and see what we can do there.”
—Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
Preparing for a Historic Coca-Cola 600 Debut
Connor Zilisch is now preparing to take on his second Cup Series start at the grueling 600-mile Memorial Day event, the Coca-Cola 600. He will make history as the youngest driver to enter this storied race, which takes place on May 25, 2025, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. While he races full-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, Zilisch also handles part-time duties with Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series.
Looking ahead to the major challenge, Zilisch shared his mindset and expectations for this unprecedented opportunity with FOX Sports:
“It’s going to be tough. I don’t expect to go and run well, … but if I’m going to run in the Cup Series one day, I’ve got to be able to run those races. And there’s no better way to get experience than trial by fire.”
—Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
“It’s a long race that you can struggle the first half, and then you still have a full Xfinity race in the second half to come back from. There’s a lot of time in that race. I feel like it’ll be good for me to just get those reps, get the laps, and the more laps in that car, the better. That’s part of the reason, is they just want to get me laps in the car, since we can’t go testing,”
he added. —Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports driver
Strong Season Performance Fuels New Ambitions
This season, Connor Zilisch has shown he’s a force to be reckoned with, currently sitting sixth in the Xfinity Series points standings with 351 points. Over the course of 12 starts, he has collected one victory, two top-five results, and four finishes inside the top ten, adding to his profile as one of NASCAR’s brightest young talents. Not only has he demonstrated resilience by bouncing back from injury, but he has also continued to build momentum at critical points in the season.
With the support of his JR Motorsports team and experience racing alongside figures like William Byron and Taylor Gray, Zilisch approaches this milestone event ready to embrace its challenges. His upcoming Coca-Cola 600 start, alongside other celebrated drivers and organizations such as Hendrick Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing, not only marks a personal achievement but also reflects the growing depth of talent in NASCAR’s ranks.
As he prepares for his landmark appearance at Charlotte, fans and fellow competitors alike will be watching to see if Zilisch’s energetic comeback will carry into NASCAR’s most demanding race, potentially shaping the future trajectory of his career and impacting the competitive landscape of the Cup Series.
