Young NASCAR star Connor Zilisch joining Hendrick in famed No. 48 car for 2028

Connor Zilisch, the 20-year-old NASCAR Cup Series rookie, will join Hendrick Motorsports after next season in a multi-year deal announced Monday. He’ll drive the No. 48 Chevrolet, a number made famous by Jimmie Johnson, who won a record-tying seven championships. Alex Bowman has been in the car since Johnson’s full-time retirement in 2021 and has said he will retire after 2027, clearing the way for Zilisch in 2028. Before the move, Zilisch will continue driving the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing. In 2024 he won at Watkins Glen in his Cup debut year in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series; in 2025 he visited victory lane 10 times. Despite a rough 2026 start—one top-10 in 24 races and 34th of 35 in points—Hendrick expects him to grow into a long-term fit alongside Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and William Byron.