Hendrick Motorsports has secured one of NASCAR’s most highly regarded young drivers, signing Connor Zilisch to a multiyear contract that will begin in 2028. Zilisch will take over the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet with continued sponsorship from Ally after Alex Bowman steps away from full-time Cup Series competition following the 2027 season.

At just 20 years old, Zilisch is already building an impressive résumé across multiple forms of racing. His path to NASCAR’s top level has included karting, sports cars, ARCA, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Zilisch joined Trackhouse Racing’s driver development program in January 2024 at only 17 years old. His potential became clear almost immediately. That same month, he won the LMP2 class in the 24 Hours of Daytona, adding a major sports-car victory to his growing résumé.

He continued making noise in NASCAR that year. Zilisch won the pole in his Truck Series debut at Circuit of The Americas and finished fourth. He later earned another Truck Series pole at Bristol. In ARCA competition, he won five of his first six starts, including four consecutive victories at Dover, Iowa, Michigan, and Watkins Glen.

Watkins Glen also became the site of his first O’Reilly Series start. Zilisch immediately won the pole and followed it with a victory, giving NASCAR fans another glimpse of what was ahead.

His first full-time season across NASCAR’s three national series came in 2025, and it was impressive. Zilisch recorded 10 O’Reilly Series victories, along with 20 top-five finishes, 23 top 10s, eight poles, and an 8.0 average finish. He finished second in the championship standings.

The Cup Series has been a much tougher challenge.

Zilisch is currently driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing during his rookie Cup campaign. Through 24 starts, he has experienced eight DNFs and sits 34th in the championship standings. Still, there have been signs of improvement, including a seventh-place finish at Sonoma Raceway in June and an 11th-place result at Iowa earlier this month.

Hendrick Motorsports clearly sees the bigger picture.

Team owner Rick Hendrick called Zilisch an exceptionally talented racer and said his character was just as impressive as his ability behind the wheel. Hendrick believes Zilisch has the talent and personality necessary to continue the history of the No. 48 team.

For Zilisch, the opportunity represents something he has dreamed about since he was a child.

He described Hendrick Motorsports as the standard of NASCAR and said being trusted with the organization’s future is an enormous honor. He will also continue to drive a Chevrolet while carrying the colors of longtime Hendrick partner Ally.

The timing of the deal makes sense for both sides. Bowman will remain with Hendrick through the 2027 season before leaving full-time competition. That gives the organization more than a year to prepare for Zilisch’s arrival while allowing the young driver to continue developing with Trackhouse.

Trackhouse owner Justin Marks acknowledged that losing Zilisch is difficult for his organization, but he also expressed excitement about what the team can accomplish before the move takes place. Marks emphasized that Trackhouse remains committed to Zilisch and the No. 88 team through the end of 2027.

Hendrick has traditionally valued long-term relationships with its drivers, and Zilisch’s age gives the organization plenty of time to build around him. The current Hendrick lineup already includes Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Bowman. Zilisch’s arrival will eventually create another major transition for one of NASCAR’s most successful organizations.

The No. 48 carries a particularly important history. Jimmie Johnson drove the car for Hendrick for 19 seasons and won seven Cup Series championships before retiring from full-time NASCAR competition. Bowman later took over the number and became a full-time Hendrick driver.

Now Zilisch is set to become the next chapter.

There is still a lot of racing between now and 2028. Zilisch has two full seasons remaining with Trackhouse, and his immediate goal will be continuing to develop as a Cup Series driver.

But Hendrick Motorsports has already made its intentions clear. The organization believes Zilisch is more than a promising young driver. It believes he can become a major part of the team’s future, and starting in 2028, he will have the opportunity to prove it behind the wheel of the No. 48 Chevrolet.