Connor Zilisch, the recently turned 18-year-old from Mooresville, North Carolina, is quickly making his way up the NASCAR ladder. Barely more than a week removed from his 18th birthday, Zilisch announced on the “Dale Jr Download” that he would be moving up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series full time in 2025 for JR Motorsports.

The announcement comes while Zilisch currently has only made one start in the top three levels of NASCAR. That was a fourth-place finish at Circuit of the Americas in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series earlier this year. Zilisch will make his Xfinity Series debut with JRM at Watkins Glen International next month.

Zilisch, who signed a driver development contract with Trackhouse Racing back in January, was with Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks for the announcement.

Earnhardt Jr. announced on the podcast that Zilisch will pilot the No. 88 in 2025. Earnhardt himself has driven the No. 88 part-time in recent years, as has drivers like Zilisch, Bubba Pollard, two-time CARS Tour champion Carson Kvapil, and others.

“It’s going to be big for me,” Zilisch said on the podcast. “This is the lifetime of an opportunity for me to come race at JRM. So many guys in the Cup Series have gone through this building. It’s going to be an honor to drive for Dale and everybody at JR Motorsports.”

Zilisch is joining the likes of 2024 Daytona 500 champion William Byron, and current Stewart-Haas Racing driver Josh Berry, as well as NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Sam Mayer as drivers who went from the Late Model Stock Car ranks to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports. Byron, Berry, and Mayer all raced Late Models for JRM as well, while Zilisch currently races with Pinnacle Racing Group.

Zilisch has made a name for himself by racing and winning in just about anything with four wheels and an engine over the last few years. Just this year alone, Zilisch was part of the class-winning LMP2 team at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, as well as the 12 Hours of Sebring. He’s also won multiple ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East races this year, as well as a CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car race at Hickory Motor Speedway, all before turning 18.

He turned heads on the national level by winning the pole with a new track record for his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at COTA earlier this year. Though he’d make a mistake and miss Turn 1 on the start and have to work his way back through the field, Zilisch was able to drive his way back to fourth in impressive fashion.

As was already mentioned, Zilisch is scheduled to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen on Saturday, September 14 for JRM. Zilisch will also make starts at Kansas Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, and Phoenix Raceway before the end of the 2024 season.

Most of the time, race fans can catch Connor Zilisch behind the wheel of a Late Model Stock Car or ARCA Menards Series East car for Pinnacle Racing Group. All of those races are available live on FloRacing with a FloRacing subscription. Fans can subscribe to watch Connor Zilisch race live by clicking here.