In a NASCAR Cup Series field loaded with road course aces, it wasn’t just Tyler Reddick who warranted attention at the Circuit of The Americas.
While the 23XI Racing ultimately stole the spotlight in Austin, Denny Hamlin believes the bigger storyline may be unfolding inside the Trackhouse garage. According to Hamlin, NASCAR’s “Road racing King” Shane van Gisbergen might soon have a different kind of challenge on his hands, one coming from his own teammate, Connor Zilisch, after the youngster’s valiant COTA surge.
Denny Hamlin Sees Connor Zilisch Closing In on SVG’s Road Course Throne
Far removed from his dominant O’Reilly Auto Parts Xfinity campaign, which produced 10 wins, Zilisch has endured a turbulent start to 2026. Three races into his full-time NASCAR Cup Series career, the teenage sensation finds himself 32nd in the standings.
On paper, that looks grim. In context, it’s far more nuanced.
The 19-year-old entered the season with legitimate expectations after finishing runner-up in last year’s Xfinity Series championship. But the leap to Sundays has proven unforgiving, and the early results haven’t reflected the flashes of speed underneath.
Speaking in the aftermath of COTA, Hamlin suggested that van Gisbergen’s biggest challenge moving forward might not come from rival organizations, but from the other side of the garage. Zilisch’s pace, composure, and rapid adaptation to the Cup car signaled something more than a one-weekend flash. It hinted at internal competition.
During the latest episode of the “Action Detrimental,” Hamlin said, “I think SVG is about to have company in the road course domination bracket. He’s (Zilisch) already got the racecraft to pass and make speed. He didn’t qualify well. Didn’t practice great.”
Truth be told, that’s not necessarily bad news for van Gisbergen. In fact, elite drivers often elevate their game when pushed from within. But it does alter the narrative. Rather than being the undisputed road course benchmark in his organization, SVG may now find himself in a two-driver battle for that label.
“He had good speed, but not great speed. But as the weekend went on, he just kept getting better and faster,” the 45-year-old added. “So, I think that we’re going to be talking about him for definitely a handful of races here.”
SVG built his reputation as one of the premier road-course racers in the sport, translating his international success into immediate credibility in NASCAR. Tracks like COTA are supposed to be his playground. But Zilisch’s Austin charge showed that the gap may be shrinking faster than expected.
Zilisch’s Daytona 500 debut showed flashes of promise. He ran conservatively through most of Stage 1 before working his way forward early in Stage 2. Then came the turning point. A moment of instability off Turn 4 triggered contact, stacking up the field. He was clipped by a spinning Ty Gibbs, then hit again by Todd Gilliland.
The result? Multiple laps down and a 33rd-place finish.
Atlanta offered no relief. When Joey Logano sent Hamlin into a spin, Zilisch was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Collected in the aftermath, his day ended roughly 50 laps early.
Then came the trip to Austin, TX (COTA). Twice, Zilisch (No. 88) drove from deep in the field into the top seven. Twice, he was spun on restarts. The first incident came when Daniel Suarez made contact to begin Stage 2.
The second unfolded during a late restart chain reaction involving Zane Smith. Each time, Zilisch was sent from contention back to survival mode. Yet, he still finished 14th.
That’s the overlooked detail. From a low qualifying position, he clawed his way to seventh, got knocked back, rallied to fourth, got spun again, and still managed a respectable result. For stretches, he looked more capable of challenging eventual winner Tyler Reddick than even his own road course-proven teammate SVG.
In short, the Charlotte-native isn’t fully in his NASCAR prime. Three races, three wreck-heavy weekends, and a points position that flatters neither his pace nor his potential.
But beyond the bad luck, the signs are encouraging.
