Connor Zilisch will be competing for Spire Motorsports in the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen International, the team announced on Thursday. Zilisch will drive the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado RST on Friday, May 8.
In their social media announcement, Spire Motorsports described Zilisch as a ‘ringer’ pick for Watkins Glen. That characterization is not without merit; Zilisch has six road course wins in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series including two at Watkins Glen.
Zilisch’s NASCAR Cup Series team, Trackhouse Racing, will be sponsoring the No. 71 truck with its Trackhouse Labs brand. The collaboration between two Chevy teams is marked by a black digital camo paint scheme with bright neon yellow numbers.
Next month’s race will be Zilisch’s first Craftsman Truck Series start of the 2026 season. He made his series debut for Spire Motorsports in 2024, finishing fourth at Circuit of the Americas at 17 years old. He returned to Spire later that year at Richmond Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Martinsville Speedway.
Last year Zilisch made one Truck Series start for Spire Motorsports. He finished fifth in the No. 7 Chevrolet at the Charlotte Roval. He also ran Watkins Glen earlier in the season, placing eighth for Niece Motorsports.
The No. 71 Spire Motorsports truck has made only one start so far this season. Daniel Suárez drove to an 18th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. In 2024 and 2025 Rajah Caruth drove the truck full-time, winning one race each year. Connor Zilisch is the only other driver with a confirmed start in the No. 71 Chevy this season.
