Did you know Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt once shared victory lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway? Yep. Back in the early days, Hendrick had just pivoted from drag boats to stock cars. One of his earliest NASCAR wins came in the Model Sportsman Series, with none other than Dale Earnhardt behind the wheel at Charlotte. Decades later, their legacies are still circling the same track. But this time, through the next generation.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s teenage talent, Connor Zilisch, and Rick Hendrick’s big-league machine, William Byron, battled it out at Charlotte in a late-race thriller. With one aiming to prove he belongs, and the other proving he’s still the team to beat. And while the veteran outfit claimed the win, the young gun didn’t back down. It was a finish that echoed the past and hinted at the future, where Earnhardt and Hendrick still write the story, just with different pens.
Connor Zilisch’s grit shines in hometown heartbreaker
Connor Zilisch, the 18-year-old Charlotte native and JR Motorsports prodigy, delivered a standout performance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Starting from the front row, Zilisch finished 2nd in stage 1 and third in stage 2, ultimately finishing second to William Byron, who swept both stages and took the checkered in a dramatic overtime finish while battling Zilisch’s teammate, Justin Allgaier. By the end, Connor Zilisch was just 0.302 seconds behind the 2025 Daytona 500 champ!
Reflecting on the race, Zilisch expressed his mixed emotions: “Second place is never fun. But, very grateful for my entire Jarrett Chevrolet team. Our car was the fastest, but didn’t have enough there.” He noted challenges during the race, including a tire rub and engine issues. “On the last restart, we had a tire rub, and I don’t think that was helping us. We had a motor that was stumbling all day long.” At the white flag, Connor Zilisch got involved in a minor rubbing incident with Justin Allgaier, which derailed his momentum in the final moments.
Despite these setbacks, Connor Zilisch remained optimistic: “So, you had to come away second with really good stage points. It was a good day, but you always want more.” Connor Zilisch’s performance is particularly noteworthy considering his recent return from a back injury sustained at Talladega after a horrifying last-lap crash that saw his car ram nose-first into the inside wall. Sometimes, extended time off can disrupt a driver’s rhythm, but not for Zilisch. “Sometimes, it’s good to get a few weeks off to reset,” Zilisch said about his month-long absence after Talladega.
.@ConnorZilisch says his back feels fine in his first race back since his Talladega crash, and he’s happy to persevere to finish 2nd despite damage. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/HWnEHN0bMD
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) May 24, 2025
The race also held personal significance for Connor Zilisch, who grew up watching legends of the sport grace the race track. “I grew up in Charlotte and always drew past this racetrack as a kid and it’s a place I want to win at,” he added. “So, wish I could have done that today, but still a really good day.” With this strong showing, Zilisch continues to build his reputation as a rising star in NASCAR. His performance at Charlotte not only highlights his talent but also sets the stage for future successes.
As the season progresses, fans and teams alike will be watching to see how Connor Zilisch capitalizes on this momentum. Can Zilisch convert his near-miss at Charlotte into a victory in the upcoming races? The next challenge awaits in Nashville, but before that, Zilisch is set to make history at the Coca-Cola 600!
All eyes turn to the big show: The Coca-Cola 600 awaits
With the BetMGM 300 in the books, focus now shifts to NASCAR’s longest night: the Coca-Cola 600. Sunday night at Charlotte isn’t just about racing. It’s a celebration of speed, sacrifice, and American spirit. From military flyovers to honoring fallen soldiers in the 600 Miles of Remembrance, it’s one of NASCAR’s proudest traditions. Every car will carry the name of a fallen service member. Families of the honored will watch from the grandstands.
And while the headlines belong to Kyle Larson, Connor Zilisch is also making history, becoming the youngest driver to ever start the Coca-Cola Cola-600! He will be driving the #87 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet at Charlotte on Sunday at just 18 years old. Zilisch knows how grueling NASCAR’s longest race is going to be, and all he isn’t putting too much pressure on himself to outperform expectations in his first-ever oval Cup race.
Zilisch told FOX Sports Bob Pockrass earlier this week, “It’s going to be tough. I don’t expect to go and run well, … but if I’m going to run in the Cup Series one day, I’ve got to be able to run those races. And there’s no better way to get experience than trial by fire.” As Zilisch is set to break barriers in the age bracket of motorsports, on the other end of the spectrum is a driver in his prime attempting a feat only one person has ever done before.
Kyle Larson is attempting the Double. Racing 1,100 miles in one day at the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. He’ll start 19th in Indianapolis. And later, race from the front row at Charlotte. Larson qualified second behind Chase Briscoe, missing the pole by just 0.02 seconds.
It’s a rare feat that only Tony Stewart has ever completed, running all 1,100 miles back in 2001. The weather robbed Larson of his chance last year. This year, the skies look clear. To help make it all possible, NASCAR granted Larson an exception. He’s excused from driver intros and the pre-race meeting at Charlotte. He won’t be penalized if he arrives late. That’s a break many drivers never got, including Tony Stewart in 2001.
Charlotte always delivers something unexpected. On a night full of emotion, tradition, and high-speed drama, who rises to the top? Is this the year Larson finally completes the Double, or will Xfinity rookie Connor Zilisch stun everyone on his Coca-Cola 600 debut? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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