“Have my name next to the word ‘Cup Series’ is really cool,” Connor Zilisch said back in July during the announcement of his move to Trackhouse Racing for 2026. It was a leap that will see him join forces with Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen in a three-car lineup. For the 19-year-old prodigy, it’s a justification after an impressive 2025 Xfinity season.

Zilisch’s rapid rise through the ranks has been nothing short of electric. From go-karting to NASCAR’s biggest stage, his journey feels like it’s only just begun. But while his entry into the Cup Series made waves, it’s what Justin Marks revealed recently that really set the motorsport world abuzz. Now, this could change Zilisch’s trajectory and expand Trackhouse’s reach far beyond NASCAR. And the stock car racing community can’t stop raving about it.

A bold future for Connor Zilisch and Trackhouse

Trackhouse Racing might just be rewriting the playbook on what a modern motorsports team can be. Team owner Justin Marks recently confirmed that the organization is exploring the possibility of entering rising NASCAR phenom Connor Zilisch into a future Indianapolis 500 (though not immediately). “It’s not a secret that I would like our company to race the Indy 500,” Marks told Sports Business Journal. “It’s got to be done the right way. I would like to do ‘The Double.'”

Marks, whose Trackhouse Entertainment Group already competes in NASCAR and MotoGP, has made no secret of his ambition to transform the team into a global motorsports powerhouse, a brand with the prestige of Ferrari. But such an ambitious plan might be slightly premature for Zilisch, who will be competing in his rookie Cup Series campaign. But the team owner is willing to be patient, despite the young racer’s enthusiasm at the prospect.

Just a few months earlier, Zilisch expressed his desire to partake in the esteemed event, stating, “I would love to race in the Indianapolis 500. I grew up watching that race on TV, and in my opinion, it’s the biggest race in the world, and as a race car driver, you want to win those races.”

The “Double” refers to the grueling challenge of running both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. As you may know, this is a feat attempted only by five elite drivers till now, with Tony Stewart being the first and only driver to date to complete all 1,100 miles of both races in the same day. Recently, Kyle Larson attempted the feat in 2024 and 2025, but was unsuccessful due to weather delays and logistical chaos.

Marks acknowledged the difficulty, saying if Trackhouse were to take that leap, Zilisch would be the top choice. However, he made it clear. “It’s dramatic and it’s risky and it can be a little uncomfortable with the timing and all that kind of stuff…I certainly don’t want to do it in his rookie year.”

That means 2027 could be the earliest possible attempt, with Chevrolet-aligned IndyCar teams such as Arrow McLaren, Team Penske, or Ed Carpenter Racing potential partners. Marks also believes Zilisch has the rare qualities to become NASCAR’s next mainstream superstar, citing his intelligence, adaptability, and fearlessness as defining traits.

And as news of Trackhouse’s Indy 500 ambitions spread, the NASCAR community didn’t hold back. They quickly flooded social media with opinions, excitement, and a few surprising takes.

Fans embrace Trackhouse’s bold vision

Trackhouse’s plans of putting Zilisch in ‘The Double’ paints a clear picture of what the team believes they have in Connor Zilisch and what fans are increasingly buying into. Some fans are already saying, “Put him in at all the big road-course events, he and Shane van Gisbergen can take on the world.” And with Zilisch’s dominant wins on road circuits at Circuit of the Americas, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen International under his belt, it’s hard to argue.

But it wasn’t just his on-track exploits that generated buzz. Some were rather unhappy with the timing of the announcement. “It comes as no surprise that Justin Marks has tried his best to hi-jack Kyle Larson’s time in the spotlight. TrackHouse has flooded socials with crew chief announcements and Indy 500 announcements…all day long, on the day after Kyle Larson’s Nascar Cup Series Championship.” As you know, Larson won his second NASCAR Cup Championship on Sunday at Phoenix as he was the highest among the four championship-contention drivers.

Meanwhile, another fan pointed out Trackhouse’s unmatched passion for racing beyond NASCAR. “Things like this and their entry in the Rolex 24 last year are why I love Trackhouse. They just love motorsports!” Trackhouse Racing partnered with TF Sport to enter a Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona, competing in the GTD PRO class. Their entry included a star-studded line-up of Shane van Gisbergen, Scott McLaughlin, Ben Keating, and Zilisch himself.

The chatter doesn’t stop there. Some are already demanding: “We need a @TeamTrackhouse #Daytona24Hours team with Connor, SVG, Ross & @JustinMarksTH.” The 24 hours of Daytona demand endurance, skill, and teamwork. This is precisely what this group can offer under Marks’ leadership. With Trackhouse’s passion for motorsports shown by their Rolex 24 Daytona 24th-place result, fans believe this dream team has the potential to compete for top honors.

It’s clear that Trackhouse Racing isn’t content with staying inside NASCAR’s box. Whether it’s Zilisch chasing ‘The Double,’ or their growing footprint in endurance racing, the team is redefining what modern motorsports looks like. They are taking one bold move at a time, with fans cheering every step of the way.