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CONCORD, N.C. (WBTV) – A Charlotte-area native signed with one of NASCAR’s top teams on Monday.
Connor Zilisch — who currently drives in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing — will take over the No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports, beginning in the 2028 season.
The 20-year-old driver who grew up around Charlotte — including in the Weddington and Mooresville areas — burst onto the NASCAR scene in 2024, when he won in his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut. He followed that up with a dominant 2025 season in the same series, where he won 10 of his 32 starts and led nearly 20% of the laps he ran.
The 2026 campaign is Zilisch’s first full-time season in the Cup Series, and the success has not been nearly as immediate.
He has just one top 10 in 24 races so far this season and ranks 34th in the point standings. Only Cody Ware is lower in points among full-time Cup drivers.
Despite his struggles as a rookie, Zilisch was always viewed as the favorite to take over Hendrick’s No. 48 after current driver Alex Bowman announced he would retire after the 2027 season.
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“Connor is a truly gifted young racer,” Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick said in a news release. “His talent behind the wheel is exceptional, but I’m even more impressed by the person he is. When someone with that kind of ability and character becomes available, you do everything you can to bring them into your organization.
“We have tremendous confidence in Connor, and we believe he’s the right driver to build on the legacy of the No. 48 Ally team for many years to come.”
In the same release, Zilisch called driving for the Cup Series’ winningest team “one of those moments you dream about as a kid.”
“Hendrick Motorsports has always represented the standard in our sport, and being entrusted to help continue that legacy means everything to me,” the young racer said.
“The chance to drive a Chevrolet for Mr. Hendrick, carry the colors of an incredible partner like Ally and compete alongside some of the best drivers and people in racing is what you work so hard for. I’m grateful for the confidence they’ve shown in me, and it’s my job to prove they made the right decision.”
Zilisch and the rest of the Cup regulars will be back behind the wheel this Sunday, Aug. 23, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The green flag is scheduled to drop shortly after 3 p.m. on USA Network.
Charlotte-area native Connor Zilisch will take over the iconic No. 48 car for Hendrick Motorsports in 2028.(AP photos)Click here for more sports news
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