Connor Zilisch reminisces the "heart-wrenching" day his year-long dominance ended in a disappointment

Connor Zilisch’s 2025 Xfinity Series campaign ended in heartbreak. Despite winning a series-high 10 races throughout the season, Zilisch managed to salvage only a top-five finish in the championship race at Phoenix. And it wasn’t enough to have him crowned the 2025 champion.

Zilisch recalled the fateful day while appearing in a recent YouTube video by Trackhouse Racing, the team he is going to drive for next year in the NASCAR Cup Series. 2025 was a stellar season for the Mooresville, North Carolina native, but coming up just two spots short of bagging the ultimate honor was indeed agonizing.

“Coming up one spot short after you dominate all year long, it's just heart-wrenching,” Connor Zilisch said (via Steven Taranto on X). “Obviously Phoenix - we were the dominant car all year long, and then you go into Phoenix and you've got to go and win and execute that one race to win the championship. And you work all year long for one moment, and when you come up short in that moment - It hurt me a lot."

There’s a lot to show for Zilisch’s maiden rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (to be renamed the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starting from 2026). The 19-year-old drove the No. 88 Chevy to a record 18 consecutive top-5s and, at one point, four straight regular-season triumphs. He also won the 2025 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

Earlier this year, Zilisch got JR Motorsports its 100th series win. It was also his fifth win of the season. With that, Zilisch became the youngest Xfinity driver to log a victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Dude, this is awesome," Zilisch said after winning. "Those bricks look really kissable and I'm ready to kiss them. This is awesome. 100 wins for JRM."

All eyes are now on Bowman Gray Stadium, which will host Connor Zilisch’s first race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Named The Cook Out Clash, the 200-lap event is scheduled for February 1, 2026, and will be televised on FOX starting from 8 pm ET. Live radio updates will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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Red Bull joins forces with Trackhouse Racing to back Connor Zilisch’s maiden Cup Series campaign

Red Bull will serve as both the official energy drink and one of the primary sponsors for Connor Zilisch’s No. 88 team through 2026. As per the latest news, the energy drink brand will represent Zilisch and his Trackhouse Racing teammate Shane van Gisbergen in 25 points races throughout the season.

For Zilisch, his first race with Red Bull is actually going to be the 68th running of the Daytona 500. At 19 years old, Zilisch will become the youngest driver to enter the crown jewel event since Joey Logano in 2009. Gisbergen, on the other hand, will debut his Red Bull Chevy at EchoPark Speedway on February 22, 2026.

“It’s so cool to be driving no. 88 in the Cup Series,” Connor Zilisch said in a statement. “The number is historic and so many great drivers have driven it. I certainly have big shoes to fill but I can’t wait to get the season started. I love the blue streaks across the side of car. The dark matte blue allows the light blue streaks to pop. I’m excited to have it on track next year.”

2025 was Red Bull’s first season with Trackhouse Racing. Both Zilisch and Gisbergen performed well, bagging a combined 16 wins in the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series.