Daytona International Speedway Saturday notebook
DAYTONA BEACH – Connor Zilisch, who is credited with seven NASCAR Xfinity Series victories in his rookie season, will drive a Chevrolet full-time for Trackhouse Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, team owner Justin Marks announced Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway.
The 19-year-old Zilisch and Marks said they’ve reached a multi-year agreement for Trackhouse to expand to a three-car team, along with drivers Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen.
“Cup racing has been the goal since joining with Chevrolet and Trackhouse, and while I didn’t know it would come this soon, I feel like I’m ready,” Zilisch said. “I know the challenge that awaits entering the Cup Series as a full-time driver, but I feel that with the support of Trackhouse and Chevrolet, this is the right situation for me. I won’t be making any predictions for success next year. All I promise is to put in 100% effort, learn all that I can, plus have a little bit of fun along the way.”
Zilisch has been a developmental driver for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and for three selected Cup races for Trackhouse this year. Zilisch won six times and started Friday night’s Wawa 250 at Daytona, but he got out of his JRM Chevy after just 13 laps after suffering a broken collarbone two weeks ago after winning the race at Watkins Glen, New York. While he was standing on the windowsill of his car in Victory Lane, his foot got caught in the window netting, tripping him, and he landed on his head and shoulder.
He was spelled by former driver and current television commentator Parker Klingerman, who went on to win the race four laps into overtime. NASCAR credits the victory to the driver who starts the race.
JRM teammates Sammy Smith and Justin Allgaier finished second and third, respectively.
“It’s different in every way, because I didn’t expect to get a call from (team owner) Dale (Earnhardt) Jr. on the day I was leaving for vacation, saying, ‘Hey, man, would you come drive this thing?’,” Klingerman said.
Zilisch also raced in the IMSA Sportscar series in 2024 and 2025, joining Ryan Dalziel, Dwight Merriman, and Kyle Tilley to win the LMP2 class at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2025, and Dalziel and Merriman won the 12 Hours of Sebring.
“Connor is a rare talent that comes along every few decades,” Marks said. “I have watched Connor grow from a kid racing go-karts at the Trackhouse Motorplex to an up-close seat as he beat all of us in the Trans Am races a few years ago. He quickly adapted to everything we put him in, and what he is doing with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series this season is historic.
“Connor is very mature, poised, and I know ready for Cup racing in 2026. He’s been mentored along the way by former racer Josh Wise and Dr. Eric Warren at General Motors. I can speak for everyone at Trackhouse Racing when I say we have a tremendous amount of faith in this young man.”
Marks said the team will reveal Zilisch’s car number, sponsorship and crew chief soon.
Zilisch, who broke his collarbone after winning the Xfinity race at Watkins Glen, New York, on Saturday, Aug. 16, will replace Daniel Suarez, who was told a month ago he would not be retained after the season.
Kaulig Racing will be Ram tough in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2026
DAYTONA BEACH – Kaulig Racing announced the team will field five Ram trucks in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series next season, marking Dodge’s return to NASCAR since the end of the 2012 season. Team President Chris Rice said the major undertaking will require at least 50 new employees.
“I have never been more excited or more enthusiastic to make any kind of announcement, actually, in my life,” said team owner and founder Matt Kaulig. “I’ve done a lot of announcements, I have a lot of businesses, and I’m just super excited about what we have going on and what the future holds.
“Everybody saw that Ram announced at Michigan a couple of months ago that they’re coming back to NASCAR in the Truck Series, and I want to announce that we at Kaulig Racing are going to the Truck Series, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.”
When Dodge announced its return, it only included the truck series. Kaulig also has Chevrolets in the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup series, an issue that will force them to keep the manufacturers separate.
“We’re very fortunate for what we’ve had over 10 years with Chevrolet, and it’s totally separate,” Rice said. “Every OEM, I think, wants more OEMs in the sport. I don’t want to speak for NASCAR, but I think it’s healthy for the sport to have Ram come back.”
Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis said a long-term plan would involve the return of Dodge to the Cup Series.
“Everybody wants to be in Cup, right?” he said.
Crew chiefs Fugle, Leslie ejected for inspection issues
DAYTONA BEACH – Crew chief Rudy Fugle, who led driver William Bryan to a season-opening Daytona 500 victory, was ejected from the Coke Zero 400 at the Daytona International Speedway after NASCAR spotted the Hendrick Motorsports team making an unapproved adjustment to the front splitter after it passed through all the inspection stations.
The team was required to reinstall the struts, and it was sent through the inspection process, where it failed.
In addition to being removed from the property, Bryan’s No. 24 Chevrolet will drop to the rear of the field when Saturday night’s race starts, and it must perform a stop-and-go penalty. The team also lost its pit selection.
Also, crew chief Lee Leslie was ejected after the No. 78 Chevrolet for driver B.J. McLeod failed two trips through the inspection process. The team also lost its pit selection.
