NASCAR is buzzing about Connor Zilisch’s rapid ascent, particularly after his ninth win last weekend at Gateway in the Nu Way 200 while driving the No. 88 for JR Motorsports. With seven victories in his last eight starts, he’s on the cusp of Kyle Busch’s single-season record of 13 from 2010, and is already the regular-season champion. However, Zilisch’s jump to the full-time Cup Series in 2026 with Trackhouse Racing, alongside Shane van Gisbergen, presents a significant challenge.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s candid outlook on Zilisch’s impending rookie year was delivered in a six-word verdict: “first year to sort of be rough.” Junior highlighted Trackhouse’s “hot and cold vibe,” noting their dominance at the 600-mile races contrasted with periods of inconsistency. This could leave Zilisch battling mid-pack, especially as he adjusts to the Next Gen car.
He compared Zilisch’s transition to the massive gap between Xfinity and Cup machinery. “He’s learning an entirely new car, the short sidewall, the way this car feels, the way the car reacts and steps out, and all of those things will be very unique and different than what he’s experiencing in the Xfinity car,” Junior explained. Unlike the more forgiving Xfinity cars with taller sidewalls, the Next Gen Cup car demands precision amid dirty air and tighter margins for error.
Junior drew parallels with Chase Briscoe’s journey at Stewart-Haas Racing, where it took a whole first season to build “a new notebook” on the car’s limits without wrecking out. However, Briscoe racked up DNFs early before clicking with top-10 runs; Zilisch, with zero oval experience at the Cup level beyond brief superspeedway tastes, could mirror that grind on tracks like Daytona and Atlanta.
Despite the challenges, Junior sees bright spots, particularly on road courses where Zilisch thrives. “Wouldn’t be surprised if Connor battles for a win in a road course. I think that’s not stepping out of bounds,” he noted, crediting Shane van Gisbergen’s setup tweaks for the Next Gen car after his own year-one learning curve.
Ultimately, Junior emphasizes the importance of data collection: “So, he’s got to build up this sort of data point or buildup… a new notebook internally about what the car’s capable of doing.” This echoes Briscoe’s story, where avoiding toe-link breaks and bad-air mishaps turned a rough start into consistency. For Zilisch, smart survival in an opener like Daytona could set a solid tone, but expect some 20th-place runs turning into unplanned pit stops.
Beyond the rookie transition, Dale Jr. turned his podcast lens to the playoffs, zeroing in on Denny Hamlin as the driver best equipped for that long-sought championship. Hamlin, having grabbed three Daytona 500s and 59 Cup wins, has consistently been a favorite, yet the title has slipped away in finals at Phoenix time and again. Junior praised Hamlin’s evolution, stating, “Every year we say, ‘Man, this is his best shot.’ What Denny’s been able to do over the last handful of seasons to be one of the favorites, one of the contenders year after year after year. And literally every single year it seems like he’s even better.”
This build-up culminated in Hamlin’s recent Gateway win, his fifth of 2025, clinching a Round of 12 spot despite Joe Gibbs Racing’s crew shake-ups. Junior doubled down on Hamlin’s edge, saying, “It really does feel like he’s in the best position he’s ever been in… Right now, I think we can say, maybe for the first time, that he’s the best car in the field at this point.”
Unlike peers fading with age, Hamlin’s work ethic, honed under Joe Gibbs’ guidance, keeps him sharp against youngsters. With the No. 11 Camry humming, Junior views this as Hamlin’s window to finally hoist the trophy before Phoenix.