As the 2026 NASCAR road course season begins, Trackhouse Racing’s Connor Zilisch spoke with Racer.com about his upcoming race against teammate Shane Van Gisbergen at the Circuit of the Americas on March 1. The conversation highlighted Zilisch’s confidence in matching Van Gisbergen’s speed, emphasizing their previous encounters and shared racing experience.
Van Gisbergen, a New Zealand driver, dominated most road course events in the 2025 season, winning five of the six races but finishing sixth at COTA. In contrast, Zilisch, driving for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, claimed victory at the COTA race last year. This added an extra layer of rivalry despite them now being teammates.
Previous Head-to-Head Battles Show Zilisch’s Competitiveness
Reflecting on last season’s performances, Zilisch recalled his ability to outpace Van Gisbergen on the road course at Sonoma, where he secured the win and Van Gisbergen took second place. Zilisch expressed confidence stemming from their races together in the O’Reilly Series and endurance events.
“I got the chance to race against him a few times toe-to-toe in the O’Reilly Series, and I think those cars are a little bit different for him, so it’s not a complete comparison, but I feel like I’ve been able to run with him in those.”
?Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing driver
“We were teammates in the Corvette in the [Daytona] 24 Hours, and I felt like I was as fast as him in that. So, personally, I feel like I can do it—but putting an entire race together and being as consistent and not making mistakes like him is where it’s all going to come together,” he added.
?Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing driver
Despite Zilisch’s confidence, the 19-year-old has faced difficulties in the early stages of the 2026 Cup Series, finishing outside the top 30 in both the Daytona 500 and the Autotrader 400. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, showed steadier results by placing 30th in Daytona and 6th at EchoPark Speedway.
Recognition of Zilisch’s Achievements with Richard Petty Driver of the Year Award
Connor Zilisch recently received the 2025 NMPA Richard Petty Driver of the Year award, adding significant prestige to his NASCAR career prior to the Daytona 500. His performance, including ten wins and eighteen consecutive top-five finishes last season, impressed the organization.
Zilisch overcame strong competition from notable drivers such as NTT IndyCar champion Alex Palou, Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, 2025 Truck Series champion Corey Heim, 2025 F1 champion Lando Norris, NHRA Funny Car champion Austin Prock, NHRA Top Fuel driver Brittany Force, and Kubota High Limit Racing champion Rico Abreu.
“2025 @JRMotorsports driver @ConnorZilisch was voted as the 2025 Richard Petty Driver of the Year by the NMPA Membership. Zilisch is the second consecutive year that a Xfinity (now O’Reilly Auto Parts) Series driver has received the award.”
?NMPA official statement
Zilisch also became the second driver from JR Motorsports to win this award, following teammate Justin Allgaier’s recognition in 2024 after his first Xfinity Series championship.
Anticipating What’s Next for Zilisch and Van Gisbergen
With the 2026 road course races underway, attention is turning to whether Connor Zilisch can maintain his pace against the dominant Shane Van Gisbergen, especially at challenging tracks like Circuit of the Americas. Their ongoing competition, now within the same team, promises intriguing battles ahead.
Zilisch’s declaration of speed parity with Van Gisbergen carries weight, but sustaining consistent performance across an entire race remains the key challenge. How both drivers adapt and refine their strategies through the season could shape Trackhouse Racing’s success in the Cup series road courses.
