Trackhouse Entertainment Group is preparing a bold future for one of NASCAR’s most promising young drivers, 19-year-old Connor Zilisch, who will step up to a full-time NASCAR Cup Series seat in 2026. While the team has ambitions to eventually enter the Indianapolis 500, co-owner Justin Marks has made clear that Zilisch’s debut in the famous race will not come in his rookie Cup season.
Marks told Sports Business Journal’s Adam Stern that the team wants Zilisch to focus entirely on adapting to NASCAR’s highest level first. The decision reflects Trackhouse’s wider ambition to become a global motorsport brand, combining its growing footprint in NASCAR, MotoGP, and potentially IndyCar into one cohesive racing operation.
Zilisch joined Trackhouse’s driver development program in 2024 and quickly made his mark. During the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season with JR Motorsports, he collected ten podium finishes, including a victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway: the 100th win in JRM’s history.
Marks, who founded Trackhouse in 2020, said the team is eager to explore new frontiers but wants to do so carefully. “Watching Larson go through that, it’s dramatic and it’s risky and it can be a little uncomfortable with the timing and all that kind of stuff, so if we decide to do something like that, Connor would certainly be at the top of our list. But to do that, we have to do it the right way, and I certainly don’t want to do it in his rookie year.”
Marks was referring to the 2024 attempt by Kyle Larson to complete “The Double,” racing both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Weather delays that year disrupted Larson’s effort, preventing him from finishing both races. Marks said the experience taught valuable lessons about preparation, logistics, and safety.
He also praised Zilisch’s talent and maturity. “The talent that is on its way up is as good as it’s ever been, and he’s just a true outlier. The way he’s been able to attack his rookie season, win at tracks he’s never been to before, but it’s also the stuff you can’t really see on TV. It’s his attitude, it’s his intelligence, how he approaches it and all that, his confidence, he will not be intimidated. I think he’s got all of the ingredients and tools necessary to be a huge star in this sport.”
As Trackhouse continues to expand beyond NASCAR, Zilisch is set to play a central role in its long-term vision. His adaptability and composure have already marked him as a standout among the next generation of drivers. While his focus remains on mastering NASCAR’s premier division, his path could eventually lead him to one of motorsport’s greatest stages: the Indianapolis 500.
