Hendrick Motorsports announced on Tuesday that Connor Zilisch will take the wheel of the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet in the 2028 NASCAR Cup Series, stepping into the seat vacated by Alex Bowman after the veteran’s retirement from full‑time competition at the end of the 2027 season.
Team owner Jeff Gordon explained that the organization was looking for more than outright lap time; he wanted assurance that the youngster could thrive on the 1.5‑mile ovals that dominate the schedule, a challenge Zilisch has already met with convincing results.
Versatility across disciplines
Zilisch’s résumé reads like a study in adaptability. In addition to ten victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series earlier this year and a runner‑up finish in the championship, he has already logged top‑ten finishes on both road courses and short tracks, including a seventh at Sonoma and an eleventh at Iowa in his limited Cup starts.
Although his first 24 Cup starts have been marked by eight DNFs, the same sample includes moments of promise that hint at untapped potential, and his ability to communicate feedback has earned praise from both crew chiefs and teammates.
A legacy re‑imagined
The No. 48 carries the weight of seven championships and 83 career victories achieved by Jimmie Johnson, a legacy that Hendrick hopes Zilisch will help extend. Gordon noted that the team values not only speed but also the driver’s capacity to integrate into a tightly knit culture where teamwork is paramount.
This move marks Hendrick’s first full‑time driver change since Kyle Larson joined the organization in 2021, underscoring a strategic shift toward youthful talent that can sustain the brand’s championship aspirations for the next two decades.