Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes bold statement about Connor Zilisch NASCAR future after Indy win

There’s hot, and then there’s Connor Zilisch right now in the Xfinity Series. The 19-year-old rookie raced his way to the checkered flag in Saturday’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his third consecutive victory.

Over the last nine races, Zilisch has four wins, three runner-up finishes and two additional top 5s. Zilisch is special and looks every bit the generational talent he was hyped up to be. Though his career is just beginning, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sees special things in Zilisch’s future.

“He has the potential to do incredible, incredible Hall of Fame worthy things,” Earnhardt said after the race, via Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.

Zilisch has his whole career ahead of him. Right now, he’s getting it done in Xfinity. Next season, it could be his time to make the jump up to the Cup Series after Trackhouse Racing mutually agreed to part ways with Daniel Suárez.

Connor Zilisch continues incredible run of form at Indianapolis

We knew Zilisch was strong at road courses. But after wins at Pocono Raceway, Dover Motor Speedway and Indianapolis, it’s clear he’s further along than anyone anticipated he would be on ovals. This one was especially meaningful, as it was win No. 100 for JR Motorsports.

“Oh man. He’s a hell of a driver,” Earnhardt said. “You know, he just went up there and got it back. We’ve got great race cars, a good race car underneath him to do what he needed to do. So, it takes a lot of us and want to thank the engine shop. Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, that’s what wins races in places like this and at Dover. So, thank y’all for all the hard work, they’ve worked hard this year. And all the support we get from HMS, it’s important to our performance.”

With five races remaining until the playoffs, Zilisch is just 21 points below JRM teammate Justin Allgaier for the regular season points lead. His 29 playoff points are the most of any driver. That’s after missing the race at Texas Motor Speedway due to a back injury.

Zilisch had only one thing on his mind after winning at Indianapolis: “I see some bricks that look kissable, and I’m going to kiss them. This is awesome. One hundred wins for JRM. Congrats to Dale, Kelley, L.W. [Miller], everybody who’s raced for JRM, everybody who works at JRM.”