Here’s How Kyle Busch Unknowingly Roadblocked the Career of This 17-Year-Old Generational Talent From Entering NASCAR

Setting up a record pace in COTA in his debut Truck Series weekend was a 17-year-old from North Carolina who reminded Brett Griffin of a young Kyle Busch. After all, the 2-time Cup Series champion too, in his early days, stormed the gates of NASCAR, trouncing champions and blowing the competition out of the water. Welcoming Trackhouse Racing’s new development driver, the DBC crew spoke about how Rowdy has influenced new rules for the sport.

For youngsters like Zilisch to compete full-time in NASCAR’s top three divisions, they need to be 18- a stipulation that was put into place after 16-year-old Kyle Busch exploded onto the Truck Series scene. Back in 2001, Rowdy was rendered ineligible to participate at California Speedway shortly after running the fastest lap at the 2001 Auto Club 200 practice. This was primarily because the next race that was scheduled the same weekend as a part of the CART FedEx Championship Series was sponsored by Marlboro Cigarettes.

Just six weeks later, NASCAR laid the rule concerning the minimum age eligibility requirement, partially because Winston was their series sponsor, a brand initially introduced by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (one of the four largest US tobacco companies to first enter the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement of 1988). However, there are uncanny similarities between Busch and Connor.

While Busch deflected away from NASCAR to join the American Speed Association, Connor’s current ineligibility situation has limited him to three series starts with Spire Motorsports. In his debut quali race at the XPEL 225, Connor roared to a pole win, only the sixth driver to start in pole position in their debut race, while recording his personal best as well as breaking the past record set by Ross Chastain by 1.630 seconds, while averaging 93.012 mph. Securing the pole by nearly three-quarters of a second, and finishing his debut race fourth just above Ross Chastain.

Drawing on the similarities, Griffin explained, “I’m mad at Kyle Busch right now because he is the reason that Connor can’t race in NASCAR. Kyle Busch came in they were like, whoa whoa whoa, we got to slow this phenom down and Kyle Busch is, and was a phenom and they were like, we got to make a rule, how you got to be to run races.” 

Though the driver is just in his teenage years, Zilisch is not your average brash, cocky, hot-headed teenager, trying to impress everybody. Drawing on the stark personality differences between the two, Griffin went on, “You’re 17. I can see you’re mature enough, and obviously, you’re fast enough.”

Following his breakout performance, the youngster was seen in the DBC studio alongside the crew where Brett Griffin revealed how Busch‘s influence capped the youngster from venturing to other divisions or making it a full-time responsibility.

Zilisch has high praise for his Trackhouse Racing teammate, Ross Chastain, for helping him out

The young gun’s debut run caught NASCAR aficionados’ eyes, including that of 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who was genuinely blown away by the driver’s skill. Following Saturday’s race, Zilisch spoke to the media and thanked his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain for helping secure the historic finish.

He said, “He let me by on that last restart and kind of made it easy on me to get by. He’s a really good guy and he’s helped me a lot getting to this point. I’m sure he’ll continue to be a good teammate for me, but you know it’s really cool to have him on my side. Have him support me.”

According to his agreement to be a development driver for Justin Marks’ team, Zilisch got the opportunity to drive select races across multiple racing series, which he started on Saturday in a Spire Motorsports truck. Despite facing multiple hurdles throughout the race, he persisted continually to finish inside the top 5. Zilisch further revealed that Chastain had spoken to him after the race and asked him to keep his head up.

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