Connor Zilisch is likely one of the brightest up-and-coming abilities in NASCAR, and final weekend he made his Cup Collection debut at simply 18 years previous. With Pink Bull sponsorship, he confirmed velocity and was marching his method ahead when he was unceremoniously despatched careening into the wall. Driving by means of the smoke of a spinning Daniel Suarez, he slammed into his teammate and similar to that, his debut was over after 49 laps.
“Yeah, we had a very quick No. 87 Pink Bull Chevrolet,” mentioned Zilisch. “I’ve had a lot enjoyable making ready for this occasion. That second stage, driving from outdoors the top-30 to 14th, was a whole lot of enjoyable. I used to be passing a whole lot of guys that I used to observe on TV rising up. Hopefully I’ll get the possibility to return again and do that once more. I had an absolute blast driving by means of the sector, and I want it didn’t finish early.
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
Formally, Zilisch completed thirty seventh – useless final. However veteran Kyle Busch instructed Zilisch to not fear, as he shortly fell out of his personal Cup debut twenty years in the past and now has extra wins throughout all three nationwide divisions of NASCAR than some other driver in historical past.
The feedback from KB made us marvel how different former prospects carried out of their Cup Collection debuts. The outcomes may shock you. There are six energetic Cup champions within the sport, and just one positioned larger than twenty seventh of their debut race…
Kyle Busch – forty first (2004) … 2x NASCAR Cup Collection champion
In one in all extra disappointing Cup debuts for a future Cup champion, Busch discovered the wall exiting Flip 4 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (his residence observe) simply three laps into the race whereas driving for Hendrick Motorsports. A couple of laps later, he was on pit street for repairs. However the injury was an excessive amount of and he pulled out of the race after simply 11 laps of competitors. Earlier than the contact, he was operating round fifteenth on observe.
Kyle Busch
Photograph by: Michael C. Johnson
Chase Elliott – thirty eighth (2015) … 2020 NASCAR Cup Collection champion
Elliott’s debut got here at Martinsville Speedway, additionally driving for Hendrick Motorsports. He spent a lot of the race in the midst of the pack, however he ended up on the mistaken facet of a restart stack-up, punching within the nostril of his automotive. They made repairs within the storage earlier than sending him again out on observe. He finally accomplished 427 of 500 laps.
Bother for Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Photograph by: Motion Sports activities Pictures
Kyle Larson – thirty seventh (2013) … 2021 NASCAR Cup Collection champion
Larson made his Cup debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway, driving for Phoenix Racing with assist from Chip Ganassi Racing. He impressed everybody watching, driving up contained in the top-15 on advantage. Sadly, the engine expired after 247 of 334 laps, denying us a outcome that mirrored his velocity that day.
Kyle Larson, Phoenix Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: Motion Sports activities Pictures
Joey Logano – thirty second (2008) … 3x NASCAR Cup Collection champion
Known as the ‘smartest thing since sliced bread,’ Logano made his debut at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (the place he would find yourself getting his first profession win only one yr later). He really ran all the race with no mechanical points and no incidents, driving a automotive ready by Joe Gibbs Racing and ending three laps down.
Joey Logano
Photograph by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
Ryan Blaney – twenty seventh (2014) … 2023 NASCAR Cup Collection champion
Blaney’s first race got here with Workforce Penske at Kansas Speedway. His debut mired his teammate Logano in some ways, operating all the race with out main drama and ending it three laps behind the race leaders.
Ryan Blaney, Workforce Penske Ford
Photograph by: Motion Sports activities Pictures
Brad Keselowski – nineteenth (2008) … 2012 NASCAR Cup Collection champion
Keselowski had the most effective displaying of any energetic Cup Collection champion nonetheless competing full-time at this time, whereas driving for Hendrick Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway. Ending simply forward forward of his Hendrick teammate (and on the time, boss within the Xfinity Collection) Dale Earnhardt Jr., he scored a top-20 end, solely two laps down.
Brad Keselowski
Photograph by: Michael C. Johnson
If we glance past champions for a second, Denny Hamlin, who’s essentially the most profitable driver in NASCAR Cup Collection historical past with out a title, nonetheless solely completed thirty second in his debut race. And of all of the full-time drivers at the moment competing, solely two earned top-ten finishes of their first race. Riley Herbst positioned tenth within the 2023 Daytona 500, whereas Shane van Gisbergen (Zilisch’s teammate) famously made historical past when he turned the primary driver in 60 years to win on debut on the Chicago Avenue Course in 2023.
The pattern continues
However what about the remainder of NASCAR historical past? Surprisingly, the pattern of lackluster debuts from future champions continues. NASCAR legends Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon each completed outdoors the top-30 of their first Cup race. The identical goes for Martin Truex Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, and Invoice Elliott. The truth is, solely 5 drivers in total historical past of NASCAR (courting again to 1949) have managed to safe a top-ten end on debut – Matt Kenseth [6th], Tim Flock [5th], Terry Labonte [4th], Pink Byron [3rd], and 1989 collection champion Rusty Wallace performing higher than some other when he earned a runner-up end in his 1980 debut.
The title for ‘worst’ debut of any driver that went on to turn into champion sadly belongs to Busch, as talked about, he solely accomplished 11 laps earlier than crashing out of the 2004 Las Vegas race, ending forward of the start-and-park entries. However as for the worst outcome general — that belongs to three-time Cup Collection champion Cale Yarborough, ending forty second due a mechanical failure 31 laps into his debut.
And with how nicely Zilisch was operating earlier than the crash, he could be pleased with the velocity he showcased contemplating how most of the sport’s best drivers carried out of their first on-track look. There’s no telling if Zilisch will attain the heights of the opposite names on this listing, however many watching and throughout the sport absolutely anticipate him to be the subsequent massive factor. And it is value noting that almost all did not come out of the gate swinging, which makes Zilisch’s tempo at COTA earlier than the race-ending wreck that rather more spectacular.
Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Photograph by: James Gilbert / Getty Pictures
For these , we included the total listing of NASCAR Cup champions and the place they completed (from greatest to worst) of their first profession begin.
(Enjoyable truth: Lee Petty and his son Richard ‘The King’ Petty completed in the identical place [17th] of their Cup debuts).
Debut finishes of future NASCAR Cup champions
Driver
End
Rusty Wallace
2nd
Pink Byron
third
Terry Labonte
4th
Tim Flock
fifth
Matt Kenseth
sixth
Ned Jarrett
eleventh
Buck Baker
eleventh
Kevin Harvick
14th
Dale Jarrett
14th
Invoice Rexford
14th
Joe Weatherly
sixteenth
Richard Petty
seventeenth
Lee Petty
seventeenth
David Pearson
seventeenth
Kurt Busch
18th
Bobby Isaac
18th
Brad Keselowski
nineteenth
Alan Kulwicki
nineteenth
Bobby Allison
twentieth
Benny Parsons
twenty first
Dale Earnhardt
twenty second
Rex White
twenty second
Ryan Blaney
twenty seventh
Tony Stewart
twenty eighth
Herb Thomas
twenty ninth
Jeff Gordon
thirty first
Joey Logano
thirty second
Invoice Elliott
thirty third
Bobby Labonte
thirty fourth
Martin Truex Jr.
thirty seventh
Kyle Larson
thirty seventh
Darrell Waltrip
thirty eighth
Chase Elliott
thirty eighth
Jimmie Johnson
thirty ninth
Kyle Busch
forty first
Cale Yarborough
forty second
On this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Connor Zilisch
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