Connor Zilisch has rapidly made a name for himself in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, triggering conversations about Kyle Busch Xfinity Series dominance with his remarkable rookie season in 2025. Competing for JR Motorsports, Zilisch is achieving results that place him in the conversation with some of NASCAR’s most established legends, capturing attention for both his consistency and racing skills.
This season, Zilisch, just 19 years old, has put together a run of performances that few in Xfinity Series history have matched. Often, the Series has been shaped by experienced veterans producing win streaks or young talents offering glimpses of brilliance, but Zilisch‘s run is pushing into a territory usually reserved for icons such as Kyle Busch. In particular, his ability to string together impressive finishes consistently suggests he is not just a one–season wonder, but a possible generational talent.
Zilisch Challenges Benchmarks of Busch’s Historic 2014 Xfinity Season
The surge of success for Zilisch has naturally inspired comparisons to one of the defining stretches in the Xfinity Series: Busch’s dominant display in 2014. Motorsport fans and analysts have begun questioning whether Zilisch’s remarkable combination of reliability, adaptability, and outright speed could allow him to actually surpass the lofty standards set by Busch.
Offering perspective on Zilisch’s current streak, a NASCAR statistics enthusiast shared online,
Connor Zilisch has an Average Finish of 2 over his last 13 Xfinity Series starts, the second best 13-race stretch ever in the series after Kyle Busch’s 1.92 from New Hampshire to Homestead in 2014.
— Daniel Céspedes (@_DanielCespedes) August 31, 2025
This highlights how close Zilisch is getting to Busch’s iconic run. His consistency is exceptional by industry standards: an average finish of 2 across 13 races is typically unheard of, except for historical runs like Busch achieved from New Hampshire to Homestead in 2014.
On August 30, 2025, Zilisch set a milestone by winning at Portland International Raceway, his eighth victory this season. This achievement not only put him in an elite category, but it also established a new record for the most wins by a rookie in the history of the Xfinity Series—a statistic that signals his fast rise from promising newcomer to a dominant frontrunner in the sport.
His trajectory showcases the transition from prospect to a genuine championship threat, all while competing against a highly skilled field where even experienced drivers struggle to string together this level of results.
Zilisch Joins Elite Company with Consistent, High-Performing Season
The true measure of Zilisch’s season is found in both the pace he demonstrates and the consistency that underpins his results. Busch’s 2014 season has long been viewed as a benchmark for dominance, especially considering how often he managed to outpace the rest of the field. For Zilisch to be close to that level so early in his career points to not only tremendous raw talent but also an ability to adapt rapidly to the demanding, grueling racing schedule that defines NASCAR.
Most drivers considered contenders for the championship are pleased when they maintain single-digit average finishes over the course of a season. Zilisch, however, is on the verge of breaking into truly rarefied air, sustaining an average finish hovering at 2—which places him at the very top of the sport’s performance metrics.
With the number of wins still climbing and his level of performance not showing signs of slowing down, Zilisch has forced a reevaluation of what is possible for a rookie and put his name next to Kyle Busch in the discussion of the Xfinity Series’ all-time dominant runs. These comparisons are quickly moving beyond just numbers and are starting to reshape expectations for what new racers can accomplish in the modern era.
As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes are on whether Connor Zilisch can continue this remarkable form, potentially setting a new benchmark that will redefine rookie achievements in NASCAR. His ongoing quest not only honors the high standards set by Kyle Busch, but also signals that a new chapter in Series history may be unfolding—one in which future drivers will aim to match or surpass Zilisch’s record-setting exploits.
