Remember when Joey Logano was crowned the ‘next best thing’? Before making his Cup Series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing at New Hampshire in 2008, ‘Sliced bread’ showcased his talent by becoming the youngest driver to win a Nationwide Series race at 18 years, 21 days old. In a similar fashion, Connor Zilisch is now rising through the ranks and rewriting history in the Xfinity Series. And it seems the Cup Series veteran is passing the baton to Connor Zilisch, who is set to break ground racing full-time in the Cup Series next year.

The JR Motorsports rookie sensation hasn’t just broken the record for most wins by a rookie, but has also set a new benchmark for consecutive top-five finishes. With four races left in the season, he is just a handful of victories shy of Kyle Busch’s legendary single-season record of 13 wins, and with his current momentum and 10 wins in his pocket, many see him as a legitimate contender to surpass it.

And Logano has recently dropped the hammer on the hottest Xfinity topic right now. Speaking on the Rubbin’ is Racing podcast, Joey Logano confirmed that Zilisch is the real deal: “Yeah. Oh, absolutely. He’ll be a champion someday. When that is, I’m not sure. But he’s a very well-rounded race car driver. From track’s perspective, is he going to have to go through a learning curve in the cup site? Sure. Because everybody in the Cup level was a standout in Xfinity, right? …Well, a lot of them had to race against the Cup guys in the Xfinity series back then, right? …So, your stats are going to look a lot different now because the best aren’t racing in the Xfinity series like they used to on Saturdays all the time.”

And Zilisch knows that all too well. The 19-year-old made his Cup Series debut in March at the Circuit of The Americas, driving the No. 87 Chevrolet for Trackhouse. He was involved in a crash mid-race and finished 37th. However, his run at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte proved to be better.

He finished 23rd after being caught in a multi-car wreck on lap 113. Zilisch is used to finishing at the front of the grid, but the reality of the Cup cars and racing against NASCAR veterans only made Zilisch realize that the Cup series is a different ballgame altogether.

However, since returning to the Xfinity scene, Zilisch’s dominance has only grown. Since his recovery at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, he has racked up nine wins, 17 top-five finishes, and led an impressive 783 laps over that span. These achievements are redefining what is possible for a NASCAR rookie, cementing his season as one for the history books.

Joey Logano, very matter-of-factly, added, “So, you’ll look, maybe you’ll look at some of that stuff differently, but he’ll have a little bit of a learning curve. There’s no doubt. Is he coming in better than anyone I’ve seen in my career? Yeah. I mean, I think he’s the only driver in the Xfinity series that goes up against van Ginsbergen, and on a road course, it could even be close, right? Like they can see him and beat him. So, you know, he’s fast from that side of it. I just think it’s the details, the little things that he’s going to have to learn.” 

While the NASCAR Cup drivers cannot even touch SVG on road courses, Connor Zilisch isn’t afraid to do so. It is no secret that Zilisch one-upped the three-time Supercars champion this year. SVG and Connor Zilisch have gone wheel-to-wheel in three Xfinity races this year. It began in Chicago, where SVG got aggressive with a 19-year-old and then claimed the victory.

Zilisch fired back in Sonoma, holding off SVG’s relentless pressure in the final two laps. Their victory reached the boiling point at Watkins Glen, where contact sent SVG crashing hard into the outside wall at turn 7. A little bit of healthy race hurts nobody. But with two road course aces as full-time teammates at Trackhouse Racing in 2026, a lot of tension is expected. But SVG has drawn his map and outlined his road course path amid his future teammates’ praise.

Heading into Las Vegas with a 57-point cushion above the elimination line, the No. 88 driver may appear comfortable, but anyone familiar with the volatility of NASCAR playoffs knows that a single blown tire, unexpected contact, or a misjudged pit call can wipe out the advantage in an instant, putting his championship dreams on the line. Logano is clearly impressed by the 19-year-old ace; however, Logano has his own championship to worry about at the moment.

Joey Logano faces criticism head-on as he gears up for the Las Vegas showdown amid a championship hunt

After clinching last year’s Cup Series championship and weathering endless debates about the playoff format, Joey Logano isn’t slowing down. He is out to prove once again that he belongs at the top. Amid his explanation of how the Next-Gen car affects the playoffs, he is sending a bold message to his critics ahead of the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this Sunday.

On the recent Rubbin’ is Racing podcast, the three-time world champion addressed the boos he has received, admitting he was initially baffled. He said, “I’m like, ‘That’s for me.’ Like, people hate me. And I thought, ‘What did I do?’ I was confused. And then at that point, I was like, ‘Well, screw you. I’m still in. If you hate me now, well, watch this.’”

It is fitting that the spotlight returns to Las Vegas, where he won last year to secure a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway. Clearly, a repeat victory is on his mind, and after his performances this season, it is hard to count him out.

Even with all his confidence and determination, the No. 22 driver admits he struggles to understand the disdain directed at him. He feels that he is misunderstood a great deal, noting that he has even combed through social media to figure out the reasons behind the hate.

However, the South Point 400 promises fireworks this Sunday, and Logano’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse is already growling, ready to take on every challenger.