Trackhouse Racing announced Tuesday that Randall Burnett will serve as crew chief for Connor Zilisch when the 19-year-old rookie makes his NASCAR Cup Series debut next season.

Burnett departs Richard Childress Racing after a successful run that began in 2020. Over the past five seasons, Burnett guided Tyler Reddick (2020-22) and Kyle Busch (2023-25), collecting six Cup Series victories, three with each driver. Before that, Burnett worked with AJ Allmendinger in 2016 and part of 2017, giving him seven full-time seasons of Cup crew chief experience.

Zilisch will enter the Cup Series with plenty of momentum. The rising star has already put together a breakout Xfinity Series season, scoring nine wins and leading the playoff standings heading into Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway. He’ll join Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen to complete Trackhouse Racing’s three-car lineup in 2026.

The move represents a reunion of sorts for Burnett and the Xfinity Series, where he previously found success. In 2019, Burnett guided Reddick to six wins and the series championship with Richard Childress Racing. That track record of developing young talent makes him a natural fit to lead Zilisch in his transition to NASCAR’s top level.

“Randall brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to win with different drivers,” Trackhouse said in its announcement. “We believe pairing him with Connor gives us the best opportunity to compete immediately as we build for the future.”

Burnett’s addition signals Trackhouse Racing’s commitment to blending veteran leadership with youthful energy. With Zilisch’s meteoric rise through the ranks and Burnett’s proven Cup pedigree, the pairing is poised to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the 2026 season.