by Reid Scearce
Connor Zilisch to drive for Hendrick Motorsports in 2028. Learn more about this NASCAR Cup Series news from last week.
The NASCAR scene was shaken up on August 17 when Hendrick Motorsports announced that rising star Connor Zilisch will be behind the wheel of the team’s legendary No. 48 Chevrolet beginning in 2028. The news comes as a major development for the sport, given the high-profile nature of the multi-car Hendrick organization.
Leading Up to the Announcement
Zilisch’s rise to the Cup Series has been nothing short of meteoric. The promising young driver was discovered through his success in karting and road racing and signed to a multiyear driver-development deal by Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks in January 2024. At the time, Zilisch was 17 years old. He made his mark on the national racing scene in September 2024, securing a sensational win in his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut at Watkins Glen International. The following year, he electrified the racing world with an outstanding rookie season in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, finishing with ten wins, eight poles and the regular-season championship before ultimately finishing second in the final standings.
Meanwhile, a month ago, the current driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, Alex Bowman, announced his retirement from full-time NASCAR racing. The announcement also coincided with Bowman signing a one-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports to finish out his career following the 2027 season. Bowman has been one of the more consistent performers of his generation, securing eight career Cup Series wins. However, the 33-year-old racer has struggled throughout the 2026 season and finds himself in a challenging position this year. Bowman sat out four races due to vertigo and currently ranks 29th in the standings with a 21.8 average finish — his worst mark since his days with Tommy Baldwin Racing in 2015.
Despite being one of NASCAR’s biggest prospects, Zilisch’s rookie season in the Cup Series driving the No. 88 car for Trackhouse Racing has been incredibly challenging. The 20-year-old rookie is currently 34th in the standings, with only one top-ten finish through 24 starts. He’s also endured eight DNFs, tied for the most in the series at this point in the season. Still, there have been flashes of the talent that made him one of the sport’s most highly regarded prospects, including a seventh-place finish at Sonoma Raceway and an 11th-place finish at Iowa Speedway.
Connor Zilisch to Hendrick Motorsports
Nonetheless, Hendrick Motorsports had no problem securing its future star, as HMS announced a multiyear deal with Zilisch starting in 2028, immediately after Bowman’s departure. Zilisch will remain with Trackhouse Racing through the end of the 2027 season before making the move to Hendrick.
At the announcement last week, both Rick Hendrick and Connor Zilisch spoke with the media.
“Connor is a truly gifted young racer. 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.”
Hendrick Motorsports Owner – Rick Hendrick
“This is 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.”
Connor Zilisch – 2028 driver of the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports
News Poses an Interesting Question in the NASCAR Garage
Did Hendrick Motorsports make its decision based, at least in part, on the hype surrounding Zilisch’s potential?
While his ceiling is unquestionably high, there is no doubt that Bowman has been a significant asset to the team throughout his tenure. In addition, Zilisch will benefit from having two full seasons of Cup Series experience under his belt before attempting to take over one of the most iconic cars in the sport. He will continue to compete for Trackhouse Racing through the end of the 2027 season, giving the young driver plenty of time to adapt to the Next Gen car and work out the challenges that have come with his rookie campaign. If he can replicate the success he found in 2025, then Hendrick Motorsports may have just acquired itself the next big star in NASCAR.
