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NASCAR Notebook: Cup Series Rookie Connor Zilisch To Pilot Iconic No. 88 Team

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
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NASCAR Notebook: Cup Series Rookie Connor Zilisch To Pilot Iconic No. 88 Team

NASCAR Cup Series driver Connor Zilisch accepted the emotional gift.

A winner of 10 Xfinity Series races last season, Zilisch fell short in the Nov. 1 Championship 4 race at Phoenix Raceway and now eyes his first full season on the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing.

Zilisch initially was tabbed to replace Daniel Suarez with the No. 99 team.

Posting on X (Twitter), JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a letter he sent to the incoming circuit rookie about what the iconic No. 88 Chevrolet means to the NASCAR Hall of Famer:

“Dear Connor,

The #88 has always carried a little extra meaning for me. It’s not just a number—it’s a legacy, defined by guys like Darrell Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, and most recently, SVG. I had a lot of great years myself driving that number. You ignited a new chapter with the 88, one written in your own style. From breaking records to delivering JRM’s 100th win as an organization, I always knew you had the talent and the heart. And now, I couldn’t be more proud to say you will carry the #88 forward into the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing. The story of the #88 is far from finished. And now, it’s your turn to write the next chapter, and we’re all here for it.

Your friend, Dale Earnhardt Jr.”

Teammate Shane van Gisbergen, who earned the 2025 Cup Series rookie of the year award, will pilot the No. 97 Chevrolet next season. Van Gisbergen donned the No. 97 to three Supercars titles. His father, Robert van Gisbergen, also competed with the number.

“It’s a number that mean a lot to my family and me,” van Gisbergen said via team press release.

NASCAR Quick stops

Friday marked 100 days until the 2026 Daytona 500. … NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts driver Corey Day will pilot the No. 17 Chevrolet full-time next season, Hendrick Motorsports announced. … Viking Motorsports hired driver Parker Retzlaff and crew chief Danny Elfand.

Jeff Hawkins Written by Sports EditorJeff Hawkins
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He joined the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  
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