“Largest Jump in Motorsports!” Joey Logano Spill the Beans on Real Reason Behind Connor Zilisch’s Cup Struggles

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season marked the debut of Connor Zilisch with Trackhouse Racing and the premier division hasn’t been kind to him. Many expected the rookie to be solid in ovals and compete for wins on road courses, but the unexpected pace of his team alongside the lack of experience has held him back.

Three times Cup champion Joey Logano, on his latest Happy Hour podcast appearance, talked about the young racer’s failure to match expectations. The Team Penske driver has been in the same situation before, as he made his Cup debut with JGR with the similar hype Zilisch had after the 11-win O’Reilly Series season.

Again, I can relate. Maybe more so to Connor than I can with what [Carson] Hocevar has gone through. Because Connor was dubbed that guy. And he was that in the O’Reilly Series. Just like I was when I started over there, right? Won my third race.

Joey Logano told Kevin Harvick’s co-hosts.

The champion driver Joey Logano learned the hard way that there is a massive difference in talent level in the first and second division. The veteran’s maiden years saw his career almost coming to an end, before Team Penske gave him a second chance. Connor Zilisch has found himself in the same spot where he can’t truly live up to the hype against seasoned veterans.

He was out there, wins a bunch of races, too. Like, it was, you know, this whole, like, hype, living up to the hype, get to the Cup level. Uh-oh. And that’s exactly what happened to me the first two years was, like, this wasn’t what I was expecting. These guys are really, really good. And that’s fact.

Joey Logano added via Happy Hour podcast.

Further talking about the massive skill difference between the two divisions, the former Joe Gibbs Racing driver asserted that every single Cup driver is capable of winning the O’Reilly Series in a good car. The years of experience, alongside the skill they developed over years gives them an advantage. Logano learned it the hard way in his rookie year like Zilisch.

Like, the jump from the O’Reilly Series to the Cup Series is the largest jump in motorsports, period. Hands down, there’s not a larger jump from a talent level. Nothing against what’s going on in the O’Reilly Series, but everybody in the Cup Series can go to the O’Reilly Series and win today. Every single one of them. They’re all really freaking good. I learned that.

Joey Logano asserted.

Connor Zilisch confirmed Joey Logano’s theory after Sonoma race

The young Trackhouse Racing driver understand this factor, as after securing his maiden top-10 finish of the season last Sunday at Sonoma he admitted that there is a massive difference among the drivers. He admitted that Cup is the most competitive racing series he has ever been part of in his career.

If I can get a little bit better each lap and grow as the race goes on, then that’s what’s important…The biggest difference is the drivers. The level of talent is higher than anything I’ve ever raced in my entire life. How to be competitive at the highest level is the biggest thing to me.

Connor Zilisch said.

The young racer needed this Cup reality check and everything he learns from making mistakes in the 2026 season will help him in the long-run, as at the end of the day there only a one or two more young drivers in whole of NASCAR with the same potential as him. It would be interesting how the rest of the season is going to playout for him, with newfound confidence after Sonoma.

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