Connor Zilisch reacts to wreck-filled Atlanta race: 'I was death-gripping the steering wheel'

In his third start in the NASCAR Cup Series, Connor Zilisch looked much more comfortable and even ran up near the front. Of course, a lot of that had to do with the massive wreck in Stage 2. But the 18-year-old held his own on Saturday night.

P11, just barely missing out on a top-10, Connor Zilisch showed why Trackhouse Racing signed him to a development deal so early. What was once the best-kept secret in the sport is now out for everyone to see.

After the race, Zilisch talked about his experience behind the wheel in a chaotic Quaker State 400. When asked if it was the craziest race he’s been a part of, he agreed.

“Oh 100% it was, I mean, runs were just forming everywhere, our cars were on edge the whole time,” Zilisch told Toby Christie of Racing America. “Yeah, it was wild. I was death-gripping the steering wheel for 260 laps, and I’m going to sleep well tonight. So glad I was able to make it to the end without doing anything too stupid and spinning out. There was a lot of guys that spun out in front of me and almost ended our day, but yeah, glad to make it to the end.”

After the big one, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen were both running really well. They worked well together and were finding runs to take and holes to slip through. SVG would end up spinning out late. But Zilisch held it together. He was the highest finishing Trackhouse driver in the race.

Is Connor Zilisch ready for the Cup Series?

When you look at the decisions that Trackhouse Racing has ahead of them, whether or not to move Connor Zilisch up to the Cup Series is perhaps the biggest. Is it worth it to run back the roster as it is, keep Zilisch in the Xfinity Series? Or is Zilisch starting to get too big for the series already?

In the first 11 races of the Xfinity Series season, Zilisch had one top-five finish, which was his win at COTA. He also had three pole awards and three DNFs. In the five races since he missed Texas, Zilisch has a pole, a win, and an average finish of 2.8. All five finishes in the top five. Then he comes up to the Cup Series and has his best finish of the year there.

If Zilisch continues to tick off top-five finishes in the Xfinity Series, and he likely will, he is going to start looking like a championship contender. You could argue that he already is one. But races at Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen are coming up – those are winnable. He won the ARCA race at Dover last year. I think his win at Pocono shows he can win at Indianapolis. All of a sudden, it feels like there isn’t much this kid can’t do.

With Red Bull sponsorship, all of the talent in the world, and a tendency to learn quickly, Connor Zilisch might be ready for the Cup Series. Trackhouse has to make that choice sooner than later.