Connor Zilisch’s stat page is scary to see right now. The rookie’s struggle in the Cup Series is more evident than ever as he spun twice within ten laps to get his third straight DNF and fourth of the season at Michigan.

It started on Lap 3, when Zilisch first spun in turns 3 and 4 on his own, hitting the outside wall eventually.

"It just snapped. Gosh, man," said a frustrated Zilisch. Luckily, he wasn’t DNFed yet. But little did he know what was about to hit him next.

Within a few minutes, on Lap 9, he spun again, and this time he was out. His car spun on turn 2 and he hit the inside wall with much more impact than the previous one.

“We’re done,” said his team immediately on the radio. “Gosh man! Oh my God,” said an even more frustrated Zilisch in response.

If there’s one factor that can explain these unfortunate mishaps for Zilisch at Michigan, it’s his experience. Or the lack of it. Before Sunday, Zilisch had never raced at the Michigan International Speedway across all three national series. Though he did enjoy an ARCA win there in 2024.

But it’s not just about Michigan now. This is the third straight week Zilisch has had a problem early in the race.

At Nashville, Zilisch blew a right-front brake rotor on Lap 72 that sent him hard into the Turn 1 wall. He was the first one to retire that evening, too. And before that, at Charlotte, Zilisch was a victim of Austin Cindric’s car that spun in Turn 2 in the first caution period, collecting him with it.

Since his Cup Series transfer, which many now feel was too early, Zilisch’s season stats are 0 wins, 0 top-10s, 0 top-5s, 0 poles, 0 laps led, but 4 DNFs. That’s not how he would’ve wanted his rookie season to look, someone whom fans tagged as the ‘next Jeff Gordon.’

And after the Michigan crash, they stripped that title off.

Fans lose hope in disappointment

“Tried to gas him up like he was the next Jeff Gordon,” said a fan.

Before the season started, not just fans, but there was a genuine narrative that made Zilisch the most hyped-up rookie since Gordon.

That was naturally because of his lightning rise that everyone witnessed in the O’Reilly Series, especially last year, when he won a mammoth ten wins only to lose the championship to his friend and rival Jesse Love.

But now, after 15 races, especially the 15^th one, that comparison is fading. “Maybe everyone, including Jeff, jumping to conclusions calling him the next Jeff Gordon were a bit premature,” said another.

This is even truer if you compare Gordon’s rookie season with Zilisch’s. Though Gordon didn’t enjoy any wins, he at least ended the year with seven top-5s, 1 pole, and led 230 laps.

“Yea it’s not Trackhouse anymore,” said one fan, leaving hopes from the team, despite Shane van Gisbergen improving on ovals. Because Ross Chastain isn’t having the best time either, sitting at 26^th with just two top-10s so far this season.

One fan didn’t compare Zilisch to Gordon, but to the driver he replaced in Trackhouse Racing this season. “Replaced the guy in 10th in points for this,” they said.

And "the guy" is Daniel Suarez. Suarez did have a difficult year in 2025, but there were some flashes of good performance. He at least secured seven top-10s, including two runner-up finishes at Vegas and Daytona. But Zilisch is yet to open his top-10 account.

And finally, one fan summed up one of the most popular chatters around him right now.

“Maybe just maybe they moved him up to soon.”

Do you feel the same? Share your thoughts.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Suyashdeep Sason

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason