Justin Marks Makes Indy 500 Demand to Connor Zilisch Ahead of NASCAR cup debut

Connor Zilisch suffered from a disappointing end to his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The 19-year-old was the winningest driver on the grid this year and was poised for a great title win. However, he couldn’t quite keep up with the winning pace and fell short to Jesse Love at Phoenix. Now, despite the title loss, Zilisch is set to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing.

Ahead of his debut, team owner Justin Marks has talked about Connor Zilisch and his potential entry into the Indy 500. Zilisch would join a very exclusive list of drivers who have attempted the Double Duty in NASCAR. Notably, Kyle Larson was the most recent driver to achieve this feat, but he couldn’t finish the races in both of his entries. As such, it is a very difficult task and not easy, certainly not for a rookie driver.

As such, Justin Marks is wary of allowing Connor Zilisch to participate in the Double Duty. Marks recalled Kyle Larson and his ill-fated attempt at the Double Duty recently. The team owner reflected that the attempt was risky and uncomfortable because of the timing and other issues that came with it. However, if the team ever decided to partake in the event, Zilisch would surely be on top of the list.

Further, Justin Marks insisted that to actually participate in the Double Duty, the team will have to do it the right way. They need to make sure Connor Zilisch does not have any difficulties in racing in either of the races and can successfully finish both of them. However, the 2026 season would be the rookie season for Zilisch, and Marks noted that they definitely wouldn’t let him race in the Double Duty in his very first year in the Cup Series.

Watching Larson go through that — it’s dramatic and it’s risky and it can be a little uncomfortable with the timing and all that kind of stuff, so if we decide to do something like that, Connor would certainly be at the top of our list. But to do that we have to do it the right way, and I certainly don’t want to do it his rookie year.

Justin Marks said via Sports Business Journal.

Justin Marks reveals timeline for Trackhouse Racing attempting the Double Duty

Although Connor Zilisch will be a rookie in the Cup Series in the 2026 season, he has already made his debut in the Cup Series, as he participated in multiple races in the 2025 season. As such, his time on the 2026 grid would certainly be eased because of his experience.

Now, keeping in mind the youngster’s chances of succeeding, Justin Marks provides a realistic timeline on when the team will attempt the Double Duty. Justin Marks was questioned whether 2027 was the earliest that Trackhouse Racing would attempt the Double Duty.

To this, he had a sure-shot question that it was indeed possible. Further, Marks raised surety on the fact that Connor Zilisch was poised to be one of the greatest talents in the Cup Series, labeling him a ‘true outlier’. He continued that the rookie’s attitude and way of driving combined helped him achieve great results on track.

Possibly, yeah (Double Duty as early as 2027). 100%, yeah. The talent that is on its way up is as good as it’s ever been, and he’s just a true outlier. The way he’s been able to attack his rookie season, win at tracks he’s never been to before, but it’s also the stuff you can’t really see on TV. It’s his attitude it’s his intelligence, how he approaches it and all that, his confidence, he will not be intimidated.

Justin Marks noted.

Connor Zilisch certainly looks very promising in his Cup Series debut as he hopes to emerge as a winning force from the get-go. Especially after losing the Xfinity Series title brutally, he would be even hungrier for a title win and would give it his all on the track.

Read More: Rick Hendrick Admits Kyle Larson’s 2025 Championship Win Was “Unbelievable”

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