A teenage sensation from Mooresville, North Carolina, Connor Zilisch, is gearing up to make his Daytona 500 debut this Sunday as he embarks on his first full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. At only 19 years old, Zilisch has captured attention and admiration in the racing community, and he will start from the 32nd position after finishing 15th in his duel race on Thursday night.
Zilisch previously participated in three Cup Series events in 2025 with Trackhouse Racing. He is now moving to the Cup level in a full-time capacity, piloting Trackhouse’s No. 88 car this year. His remarkable 2025 season saw him clinch 10 victories in NASCAR’s second-tier series, an impressive feat that outshone every other driver in the league.
One notable victory came at Daytona, where, despite a broken collarbone, Zilisch showed resilience by starting the race before relief driver Parker Kligerman took over midway and ultimately secured the victory. As he prepares for the Daytona 500, Zilisch expressed his excitement and eagerness to make the most of the opportunity while enjoying the experience.
“I just try and make the most of the weekend, obviously, and do everything I can on the track,” he stated. “But more importantly, just enjoy the experience and have fun no matter what happens.”
Zilisch will be the youngest driver in this year’s Daytona 500, with the next youngest competitors, Carson Hocevar and Ty Gibbs, being 23 years old. Meanwhile, Casey Mears, who had to race his way into the Daytona 500 during Thursday’s duels, is notably the oldest at 47.
If Zilisch achieves victory, he would break records by becoming the youngest Daytona 500 winner ever. Currently, that title belongs to Trevor Bayne, who won the race in 2011 right after his 20th birthday.
The highly anticipated Daytona 500 is set to kick off this Sunday, February 15, at 2:13 p.m. EST, with the start time adjusted to accommodate possible adverse weather conditions later in the day.