Tearful Connor Zilisch “never thought I would make it anywhere in racing”

Connor Zilisch practically had months to talk himself out of crying during his NASCAR Cup Series introductory press conference, which naturally, only increased the odds that it happened anyway.

For the record, the gracious and affable 19-year-old prodigy lasted four minutes into the moment, flanked on each side by Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks and General Motors Vice President of Competition Dr. Eric Warren.

“I’m honored to be joined by you two on the stage,” Zilisch said. “You two believed in me before a lot of people did and gave me this opportunity to be sitting here today and have the opportunity to make that jump to the Cup Series.

“So, first of all, thank you to Eric and Justin. I was sitting in the Dick’s parking lot across the street earlier today and just kind of reflecting on the last 15 years of my life and what’s led to this moment and got me to this point. I never thought I would make it anywhere in racing …”

Zilisch overcome with emotion

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

And with that, Zilisch lost the fight and tears started streaming down his face. He lowered his head, wiped his eyes, and gathered it back up.

“My parents have been behind me since day one, through every moment, the good, the bad,” Zilisch said. “There were many times I questioned why I left school, left my friends, to make this commitment to go to the Cup Series and try and chase a dream of racing in motorsports. I never knew what was ahead of me.”

Zilisch immediately recollected the moment where Kevin Harvick asked his dad, Jim, ‘what is your plan with this kid,’ and the answer was ‘go to college.’ Harvick, the 2014 Cup Series champion and agent who managed Zilisch at the time pushed the family to go all-in on motorsports.

“So, thank you to Kevin,” Zilisch said. “There are a lot of people that have been a part of this journey with me.”

Zilisch then proceeded to thank everyone from his current team at JR Motorsports, to the Silver Hare Racing he competed in Sports Cars with, to Pinnacle Racing Group whom he raced ARCA and Late Models with.

A dream come true

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

But back to the tears for a moment. Why didn’t Zilisch stand a chance?

“It’s cool,” Zilisch said. “I knew the whole world knew already but still to be able to say it and have my name next to the words ‘Cup Series’ is really cool so I wasn’t going to try and hide from it.

“But it’s just a day that I’ve been dreaming about for a long time and I’m not going to let that kind of idea, that everyone already knows, kind of take away from the moment.”

It’s a moment he has dreamed about for a long time, racing at one of the highest levels of any given discipline, and Marks recognized his potential from the moment he went door-to-door with him.

“I watched him race at the Trackhouse Motorplex, watched him as he went to Late Models and then Trans-Am, and then got an opportunity to be his teammate in the Trans-Am race at (Virginia International Raceway) just to sort of see how he operates, and he won that race by about 45 seconds over the field,” Marks said. “It was really kind of that moment that we felt like making an investment in Connor, giving him the tools and the opportunity to develop, was something that we really needed to do at Trackhouse.”

And all Zilisch has done since then is win.

Nothing but success for the young phenom

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

He has won the Rolex 24 at Daytona, countless Touring Car and Late Model races, and now victories across ARCA and the Xfinity Series. He is the current championship leader and will be racing Cup at 19-years-old in February.

But it goes beyond the resume, as Zilisch is also genuinely wise beyond his years. There is a maturity, respect and earnestness that he carries towards everyone that he meets. The combined package is why Marks immediately jumped at developing him and why Red Bull made him one of its rare representative athletes.

Marks said that ‘everyone sees’ what he sees in Zilisch.

“It’s the level of maturity, the approach, the ability to deliver in big moments,” Marks said. “When I get asked, which is sort of weird, but I get asked sometimes by young people, ‘What can I do to get noticed or to get an opportunity in racing?’ And I tell them it’s just you have to just win.

“You just have to have the ability to get it done when you got a fast racecar, and when you have a winning opportunity, you got to be able to close the deal. Connor’s done it.”

Marks referenced his ‘rate of adaptability’ and how fast he is is across every platform and discipline he partakes in. This is important, given a Cup Series that has evolved from true Stock Car to Sports Car hybrid that races on ovals, dirt, road courses and superspeedways.

“This sport won’t wait on somebody to figure things out,” Marks said. “It’s such a fast-paced sport. You have to be able to get in a car, understand it right away, find its limits right away, and go deliver right away. …

“That’s really what it’s all about, because the Cup Series is a different sport than the Xfinity Series. Every week is such a challenge, and he’s going to be going to a lot of racetracks that he’s never seen in a Cup car before and with such limited practice. He’s going to have to be able to figure out how to go fast really quickly. And he’s demonstrated the ability to do that so much in his career.”

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

And that’s just his assessment of the race car driver and not the human being.

“Emotional maturity, approach, organization, and paying attention to the things that are important to success in his career,” Marks said. “All of those things together, he’s demonstrated in a way that I’ve never seen a teenager be able to do it before.

“So, when you recognize that you’ve got that in a package, you know you have to run with it.”

Zilisch’s vulnerability, empathy and willingness to bare his soul in every environment along the way to his ascension to the Cup Series is part and parcel to what has made him great behind the wheel.

He intends to stay grounded.

“You get to Sunday and all of a sudden this becomes a job and you’re finishing position determines if you’re going to stay in the sport or not and that adds pressure and makes things more difficult,” Zilisch said.

“It certainly adds to the fact that it’s no longer all about having fun but that is what I’m going to try to do – to make sure that I do my best and enjoy the ride.”

He said the 38-week grind is too long to be miserable doing this for a living now.

“I’ll do my best but there is nothing that can really prepare you for this jump and only time will tell how it affects me. But I’m going to do my best to stand on my ground and stay true to who I am.”