The Next Big Thing

TexasRaceLady said:
Connor is going to be one to watch, most definitely. I just hope he and his handlers don't push him too far, too fast.
We've seen a lot of youngsters touted as the next big star, only to see them fade away into obscurity.
Example: Reed Sorenson
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And we saw how close Joey Logano came to joining that list after JGR rushed him up.

The kid has a high ceiling but we‘ve also seen this before.
 
If you had a nickel for every time a prospect was called “the real deal” you’d probably be able to purchase a Cup charter. That being said…Zilisch is the real deal. This is a kid who would be working his way up the F1 feeder system if he had the funding to continue pursuing a path over there. His road racing ability is undeniable, but he’s shown a ton of raw talent and adaptability in hopping into stock cars (CARS/ARCA) on ovals he’s never visited before and winning immediately. Oval racing at the Xfinity level will be a tough challenge but he progresses along learning curves at such a high rate.

There’s no question he can be a Cup championship contender one day with his pure talent, versatility, and composure. And having all the might of JRM, Trackhouse, and GM behind him will only further his development as well.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
In a Hendrick-prepared Camaro? :D
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It will be in a Truck prepared by BMR the #1 truck team in the series for Bristol with HendrickCars.com plastered all over it lol. Connor is racing at Bristol the night before in ARCA also. He has won a number of races on ovals in ARCA already. Dover, Iowa, IRP, Michigan, and 2nd at Milwaukee.
 
StandOnIt said:
It will be in a Truck prepared by BMR the #1 truck team in the series for Bristol with HendrickCars.com plastered all over it lol. Connor is racing at Bristol the night before in ARCA also. He has won a number of races on ovals in ARCA already. Dover, Iowa, IRP, Michigan, and 2nd at Milwaukee.
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You may have missed the 'hope he runs at Le Mans one day' comment I was replying to. ;)
 
The obvious stuff: Connor Zilisch is impressive and if I was betting on future cup stars he would be one of the best bets, imo.
But nothing is guaranteed until they get into a cup car and prove it. I have seen others that I thought would be the next big thing in the cup series and it just didn't happen.

I don't want be a Debbie Downer, and hopefully it all goes well for Connor Zilisch.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
Poster boy for advancing too soon.
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I never really got the Casey Atwood hype in the first place. I think he was a case of Ray Evernham trying just a little TOO HARD to find himself another Jeff Gordon. I'm not saying he wasn't or could not have become a really good driver, just that I didn't see anything up to the point of his Cup debut that made me think future superstar.
 
DIDIT said:
I think the next big thing is gonna be either Brexton, Owen or Keelan.
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The track record on second generation drivers is notoriously hit and miss. I'll reserve judgement until they get at least to the Cars Tour level or equivalent. There is also the question of whether any of them burns out or decides to go in a different direction. Remember Matt Martin?
 
Besides Dale Jarrett , Jr, and Chase, what drivers kid has really had any success in cup?
 
We’ve often seen open-wheel drivers transition full-time into stock cars. As a result, there’s been some discussion over how a stock car guy would fare committing to open-wheel racing. Citing @FLRacingFan’s mentioning of his credentials, Zilisch seems like the right guy to pull off that vice versa scenario one day. I would be interested in seeing him follow that trajectory.
 
Truex_rox said:
We’ve often seen open-wheel drivers transition full-time into stock cars. As a result, there’s been some discussion over how a stock car guy would fare committing to open-wheel racing. Citing @FLRacingFan’s mentioning of his credentials, Zilisch seems like the right guy to pull off that vice versa scenario one day. I would be interested in seeing him follow that trajectory.
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Ask Jimmie.
 
hmmm298 said:
Ask Jimmie.
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Ok, valid point. So I will pose this to you. Jimmie, as much as I hate to say it, was well past his prime and chose to cross over at a time when his skills were already quite diminished. With Zilisch, you'd presumably have a guy on more of an upward trajectory - if he chose to do so fairly early on in his career rather than later.
 
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