Trackhouse Racing announced today that 18-year-old Connor Zilisch will drive the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet in NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway on June 28 and the road course at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Aug. 10.

“It’s awesome to have the opportunity to race two more times in the NASCAR Cup Series,” said Zilisch. “Nothing beats experience in this sport especially at the Cup level. Thanks to everyone at Red Bull and Trackhouse for this opportunity.”

Zilisch made his Cup debut on March 2 on the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) road course in Austin, Texas. He ran well but finished 37th after an accident sidelined him midway through the race. Most recently, Zilisch made his second Cup start on May 25 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, scoring a respectable 23rd-place finish in the 600-mile race. Darian Grubb, who served as crew chief for the Zilisch at COTA and Charlotte, will lead the team at Atlanta and Watkins Glen.

Zilisch, a Trackhouse Racing development driver, is racing full-time in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports. He scored his first Xfinity victory of the season at COTA on March 1, and one day later, he made his Cup Series debut. Zilisch ranks fifth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver standings and leads all drivers with three pole positions: COTA, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway.

Zilisch stormed onto the NASCAR racing scene in 2024. He compiled an impressive resume that included winning his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen International, two Craftsman Truck Series poles, victories at the Rolex 24 in Daytona, the Twelve Hours of Sebring, four ARCA races and a CARS Tour event.

Red Bull is Trackhouse Racing’s official energy drink and a primary partner on Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Chevrolet.

Trackhouse Racing PR

For the first time after a Cup points race, NASCAR will honor the top three finishers with a podium celebration next weekend in Mexico.

While podium celebrations are common in other forms of racing, including Formula One and IndyCar, NASCAR celebrates only the winner in its U.S.-based series.

The only time NASCAR has had a podium celebration in Cup was for the Clash at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum exhibition races from 2022-24. That was done in a nod to the historic venue having hosted the Olympics. The top three drivers received medals — gold for the winner, silver for second place and bronze for third place.

NASCAR will have podium celebrations for the top three finishers for its Xfinity Series and Cup Series races June 14-15 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. That weekend will represent the first international Cup points race since 1958.

“For this historic weekend, it felt appropriate to recognize the heritage of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and give a nod to the traditional international motorsports celebrations,” NASCAR stated to NBC Sports. “There are currently no plans for podium-style celebrations following the Mexico City event.”

The NASCAR Mexico Series also will have podium finishes after its races June 13-14 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as it does for all its races.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to one of its fastest tracks this weekend with a trip to Michigan International Speedway.

While podium finishes are not an official statistic for NASCAR, Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson each have had the most top-three finishes this season. Both have six in the first 14 Cup points races of the year.

Bell has three wins, two runner-ups and a third-place finish. Larson has three wins, one runner-up and two third-place results.

Denny Hamlin and William Byron are next with five podium results each. Hamlin has two wins, two runner-ups and a third-place finish. Byron has one win, three runner-ups and a third-place result.

Ryan Blaney, who won last weekend’s race at Nashville Superspeedway. completes the top five. He has three podiums, scoring one win, no runner-up results and two third-place finishes.

DGM Racing and driver Ryan Ellis are expanding their partnership with Tablo TV as NASCAR returns to Mexico City. The sponsorship now includes an in-car camera at primary races, enhancing viewer engagement and excitement. This initiative will launch at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Kansas Speedway, and Talladega Superspeedway. Tablo TV aims to provide fans a behind-the-scenes look during broadcasts, ensuring a thrilling experience. Ellis expressed enthusiasm for contributing to this historic NASCAR event and connecting with passionate fans in Mexico.

By the Numbers

• Race scheduled on June 14 at 4:30 p.m. ET at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
• Tablo TV provides access to 125+ local broadcast and streaming channels subscription-free.

State of Play

• NASCAR’s return to Mexico City has generated significant international buzz.
• Tablo TV has revamped its car design with brighter colors inspired by Mexican communities.

What’s Next

As the event approaches, heightened anticipation is expected among fans and teams alike. The success of the in-car camera initiative could pave the way for similar sponsorships in future races across diverse locations. Additionally, this could enhance the overall viewing experience and attract more fans to the Xfinity Series.

Bottom Line

Tablo TV’s innovative sponsorship breaks new ground in fan engagement, making their partnership with DGM Racing and Ryan Ellis a significant leap forward for NASCAR broadcasting. Aiming to connect more closely with viewers, this collaboration could redefine how fans experience live racing events.

Carson Hocevar was the talk of the NASCAR Cup Series following his dust-up with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at Nashville Superspeedway this past weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr. made sure to have a couple of words with the young wheelman following the race.

On the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, the NASCAR Hall of Famer shared what his advice to Hocevar was. It was a poignant statement, and we’ll see over the next couple of weeks if the message sunk in for the Spire Motorsports wheelman.

“I told him after the race, I said, ‘You’re going to win a shit-ton of races.’ I was like, ‘I think the world of you and your talent, but there’ll be times in that booth when I’m just gonna have to say — you know, call it like I think I see it,’ and some drivers do not like that,” Earnhardt Jr. stated. “My buddy, Martin Truex Jr. just gets so annoyed with me. I couldn’t really tell though, because he hardly communicated either way. But we would have some conversations. He’s like, ‘Man, why do you say that?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I got to. You know, it’s kind of what’s happening right now with you.’ But some guys don’t mind it and some guys do.

“Carson’s response to all of that was, ‘I’m just glad you’re talking about me.’ I kind of wanted to use that reference that dad said many years ago, they need to either be cheering you or booing you. When they don’t — when you get up there and they don’t do anything, you’re in big trouble. So, you’ve got to be a driver that’s making or getting a reaction, for fans to have real connection, real value to the sport and the industry and your partners.”

Alas, Hocevar has shown immense speed in 2025, but many within the motorsports world aren’t too keen on his aggressiveness week-in and week-out. Whether he dials it back or not remains to be seen, but he’s continuing to make enemies throughout the season.

It’s led to some solid finishes though. Just look at his runner-up run this past weekend in Nashville. He’s fast, and the wins will come, but he’s not making any friends in the process.

Time will tell when Carson Hocevar gets to Victory Lane, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. recognizes the young man won’t have much help from the field if he continues racing this way. If the past is any indicator though, he might not care very much about that.

The red, white and blue will be traveling 400 miles this weekend in Michigan, all thanks to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The Hyak Motorsports racer will be representing Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer on his No. 47 Chevrolet this Sunday at Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400, and his car will be American flag-themed.

“We didn’t get the result we were after in Nashville, and that’s frustrating for sure. But this team’s got heart. We’ve put in the work this week, and we’re heading to Michigan with a clean state and a fast Real American Beer Chevy,” Stenhouse said in a release.

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will drive an American flag-themed car this weekend, thanks to Real American Beer. (Real American Beer / Fox News)

“Brother, Michigan knows how to go full throttle, and so does Real American Beer,” Hogan said in a statement of his own. “We’re back on the track, back in the fight and there’s no better time to crack one open and let it rip.”

Real American Beer CEO Terri Francis added, “The partnership with Hyak Motorsports underscores Real American Beer’s commitment to the NASCAR community, especially in markets where beer drinkers are seeking alternatives with real identity and American-made values.”

Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer hit the shelves at Walmart less than a year after launching. (Real American Beer / Fox News)

2025 NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP ODDS: KYLE LARSON, CHRISTOPHER BELL FAVORED

Jimmy Hart, aka “The Mouth of the South,” will be trackside bringing the heat and handing out the cold ones. He’ll be repping Real American Beer all weekend with a megaphone in hand. If you’re in the infield, you’ll hear him before you see him.

Hogan’s brand was founded in June 2024 and is available in 27 states, quickly becoming a fan favorite among beer drinkers who live for race days, tailgates and flag-flying weekends.

Stenhouse, a two-time Xfinity Series champ, was unable to finish the Cracker Barrel 400 in Nashville Sunday, and he continues to struggle. He has just two top 10 finishes and ranks 18th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings this year.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan is hoping to unite the country with the launch of Real American Beer, a premium American-made light lager. (Real American Beer)

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He’s hoping he can drink some Real American Beer in victory lane, a spot he landed after the 2023 Daytona 500.

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THE WES BUCK SHOW – EPISODE 388
“THE WTF BUCK FLYING CORVETTE SHOW”

SOME WEEKS IT’S HORSEPOWER.
SOME WEEKS IT’S HEAD GAMES.
THIS WEEK? WE’RE TALKIN’ FLIGHT PLANS.

Welcome to The WTF Buck Flying Corvette Show, where things went airborne, Pro Mods went rounds, and racers reminded the world why this is the baddest motorsport on the planet.

First up, Jeff Rudolph. The dude showed out and locked down a Pro Mod win at Donald “Duck” Long’s Shakedown event this past weekend. Big field, big pressure, big performance. He’s comin’ on to break it all down and talk about what it takes to win in that kind of chaos.

Then, we’re chattin’ with the man behind one of the wildest viral clips drag racing’s seen in a minute, Jason Hoard. His nearly brand-new Corvette took FLIGHT in a scary crash at a small no-prep race, mid-track, nose-up, full send. Thankfully, he’s okay, but it was one of those “is this even real?” moments. We’re hearing the story straight from the guy behind the wheel.

And later in the show, Kallee Mills is stopping by fresh off a big W of her own. She’s on the rise, and we’re checkin’ in to hear what went right, how it felt, and what’s next.

Three guests. Three wild stories.
All gas. No filter.

Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter are locked in and ready to roll—LET’S FLY!

DON’T MISS IT! LET’S GOOOOO!

⸻

Each week on The Wes Buck Show, Wes Buck, JT “Murder T” Hudson, and Mike Carpenter bring their unique insights and analysis to the most electrifying moments and storylines from a packed weekend of drag racing.

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dragracing #wesbuck #dragillustrated #WTFBuck #FlyingCorvette #JasonHorde #JeffRudolph #CallieMills #ProMod #NoPrep #Shakedown #DuckX #WBS #DI #RacersClub

This story was originally published on June 4, 2025.