Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR prediction is making waves, as he believes a new contender is emerging to end Shane van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses. Following the recent race at Circuit of the Americas, Hamlin pointed to young driver Connor Zilisch as a significant new threat in the series.
Shane van Gisbergen’s Reign Faces a Challenge
Shane van Gisbergen, widely regarded as one of the greatest road-course drivers in NASCAR history, watched his streak of five straight road course victories come to an end last Sunday at Circuit of the Americas. Tyler Reddick clinched the win, while van Gisbergen finished second, signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape of the NASCAR Cup Series.
Denny Hamlin brought attention to the rising talent of 19-year-old Connor Zilisch during his recent “Actions Detrimental” podcast episode, highlighting that Zilisch may soon rival van Gisbergen’s supremacy. Zilisch drives the No. 88 car for Trackhouse Racing and has quickly become one of the most discussed rookies in the series, particularly after his performance at COTA.
“I think that SVG is about to have company in the road-course domination bracket. It appears Zilisch is really, really…I mean he’s already got the race craft to pass and make speed speed…As the weekend went on, he just kept getting better and faster. I think we’re going to be talking about him for, definitely for a handful of races here where we’ll be turning left and right.”
Denny Hamlin on Connor Zilisch’s driving on road courses, ability to challenge Shane van Gisbergen
Connor Zilisch’s Season: Adversity and Breakthroughs
While Zilisch currently holds the fifth-fewest points among full-time Cup Series drivers heading into the Phoenix race weekend, that statistic does not reflect his true potential on the track. In his debut at the Daytona 500, Zilisch was running third by Lap 85 but was sidelined after being involved in a multi-car incident, ultimately finishing 33rd. At Atlanta Motor Speedway the following week, he held promising positions throughout the race—sixth on a Lap 93 restart and in the top ten not long after—before getting caught behind more accidents and dropping to 30th by the finish.
Resilience Shines at Circuit of the Americas
Zilisch’s standout moment arrived at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), where he had a challenging start, qualifying 25th after struggles in practice and qualifying. Despite this, Zilisch maneuvered into the top 10 as Stage 2 commenced. Misfortune struck in Turn 1, as he was spun out by Daniel Suarez, plummeting to the back of the pack.
Remarkably, Zilisch recovered from the spin and showcased one of the fastest cars on the track throughout the day. Disaster struck again late in the race after Hamlin made contact with William Byron, causing Byron’s car to ricochet into Zilisch and causing a second spin. With just 16 laps remaining, Zilisch found himself languishing in 32nd position.
Displaying his impressive road course skills, Zilisch carved his way through the field, advancing to 24th with 10 laps left. On the final lap, he reached 17th and ultimately crossed the line in 14th place, defying the challenges that had plagued his run.
An Impressive Young Talent Gains Spotlight
During the COTA race, Zilisch made an astounding 56 passes, finishing the day with a respectable 23 points—one of the highest achievements among his peers that day. Last season, Zilisch stood out as the only competitor who could regularly match van Gisbergen’s pace on road circuits at any level of the sport. His remarkable ability at just 19 years of age sets him apart, drawing comparisons to other experienced drivers such as William Byron and highlighting his rapid progress within NASCAR.
The respect for Zilisch’s racing intelligence and growing reputation as a formidable road-course driver has been echoed both on-track and by observers within the field. According to Hamlin, his racecraft, especially on circuits that demand both left and right turns, is already of note.
“I think that SVG is about to have company in the road-course domination bracket. It appears Zilisch is really, really…I mean he’s already got the race craft to pass and make speed speed…As the weekend went on, he just kept getting better and faster. I think we’re going to be talking about him for, definitely for a handful of races here where we’ll be turning left and right.”
Denny Hamlin on Connor Zilisch’s driving on road courses, ability to challenge Shane van Gisbergen
The Significance for NASCAR’s Competitive Future
Zilisch’s recent performance signals not just a personal milestone but also the possibility of a new rivalry at the top level of road-course racing in NASCAR. Hamlin’s outspoken prediction suggests that fans and teams should watch for Zilisch and van Gisbergen to battle throughout the current season and beyond, potentially reshaping the conversation around road-course specialists in the Cup Series.
As NASCAR heads to Phoenix for the next event, attention will be focused on whether Zilisch can build on his momentum and further challenge stalwarts such as van Gisbergen. His tenacity, rapid improvement, and notable skill on diverse circuits highlight the evolving talent pool within the Cup Series, making Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR prediction a compelling narrative for fans and analysts alike.
Every @ConnorZilisch Pass at COTA. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/00Hh7680nJ
— KP 🦩 (@Andrettism) March 2, 2026
