Is Connor Zilisch the best prospect in NASCAR history?

Long before Connor Zilisch made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut, the Charlotte, N.C., native was already being hyped as one of the hottest prospects NASCAR had ever seen. 

Three days before his 19th birthday and on the heels of his fourth Xfinity Series win of 2025 at Dover, it might be a good time to ask whether or not he's the best prospect that stock-car racing has ever seen. 

Zilisch won in his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen in 2024. He's followed that up by racking up a series-leading four victories through the first 20 races of 2025. He's second in the standings, 56 points behind defending Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier, and that's after Zilisch missed the May 3 race at Texas Motor Speedway due to a back injury.

But the real litmus test for gauging his place among the best prospects in NASCAR history comes when you compare Zilisch's first 23 Xfinity Series starts to other drivers who have earned a similar distinction. 

Ty Gibbs, grandson of Super Bowl-winning head coach and legendary NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs comes to mind. Like Zilisch, Gibbs won in his Xfinity Series debut at the Daytona Road Course in 2021. 

William Byron won the Xfinity Series championship for JR Motorsports in 2017 — his rookie season. Zilisch is looking to do the same this year. 

And who can forget Joey Logano, who earned the nickname "Sliced Bread" during his rise up the NASCAR ranks for being the best thing since. 

Here are the numbers for those four drivers in their first 23 Xfinity Series starts:

Numbers aren't everything, but Zilisch matches up well with those who have also been dubbed as some of the best prospects in NASCAR history. 

Of course, the real test for Zilisch will come in the Cup Series, where he's already made three starts and could be a full-time driver with Trackhouse Racing in 2026. 

But for now, having conversations about whether the 18-year-old phenom is the best prospect in the history of NASCAR is still permissible — and perhaps more appropriate than ever, given how good he's been so far. 

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.