The 3 Best Drivers to Replace Connor Zilisch in the No.88

NASCAR’s quickest prodigy, Zilisch, is quickly moving out of the JRM No.88 and into the Trackhouse No. 99 in Cup next season. That leaves an open seat available at the best Xfinity team there is, with the No.88 team having 10 total wins this season. It’s a seat most want, but who deserves it?

No. 3 Corey Lajoie

After a terrible start to 2024, most fans were more than ready to write off the longtime driver of the Spire 7 as a hotheaded hack. However, that overlooks a significant portion of the great work he did in Cup to help build up Spire by outdriving his equipment. Such as almost winning at Atlanta, his top tens in the 2nd half of 2024 at Darlington and Watkins Glen, plus top fifteen and twenties at tracks like Dover, Nashville, Fontana, and Bristol.

Very much driver tracks with cars that weren’t supposed to be top 15 or 20, not close to that on pace. Lajoie didn’t warm himself back up to fans when he said to “hold up a trophy on a Friday when there are 12 people in the grandstands” when he said he had dismissed a seat at 1 of the best truck series teams in MHR.

But he now regrets the statement he made when hangary, according to him. And with him running in the truck right now for Spire and looking good, earning multiple turn 5s and 10s with Spire’s truck team. Perhaps a go in the No.88 is warranted. Lajoie is someone who brings his own sponsors with a strong brand, and there’s a good chance he’ll deliver results for the No. 88, so it’s worth a shot.

No. 2 Justin Haley

Even after Haley’s near win at Daytona, rumors are still swirling that Haley will leave Spire, with the team being disappointed with his results. Haley is currently sitting last of all the Spire drivers in the points in 30th, with him having a career low in top fives and top tens. No doubt not helped by his mid-season switch from championship-winning CC Rodney Childers to Lajoie’s previous CC, Ryan Sparks.

So, with Haley and Spire not working out, and with it being unlikely a competitive ride will open for him in 2026. Why not do a year or 2 in the No.88?It’s not unheard of for a driver from Cup to do a year or 2 in Xfinity before coming back up to Cup. JHN is on the grid right now with Legacy MC racing in Xfinity with JGR, even competing against the JRM No.88 when it was part-time.

Brian Vickers was also full-time in Nationwide in 2014 before returning to full-time Cup with MWR. With four career Xfinity Series wins, he’s already shown he can be competitive; with Cup experience, he could help the No.88 to a 2026 title for sure.

No. 1 Daniel Suarez

Another driver who’s been caught up in silly season rumors mid-season. And that was before Zilisch was confirmed to be leaving the No. 88 for the ride that Suarez is driving right now and has driven since 2021. So it’s ironic, but he could replace the man who’s replacing him. It’s an ego blow, but he’s proven himself in the cup.

With two career wins, including one of the most outstanding photo finishes in NASCAR history, and multiple playoff appearances, Trackhouse was built around him as their original driver. Plus, he’s a very successful Xfinity Series driver! He won the 2016 Xfinity Series and proved he still got it when he won with JRM this year in his home country of Mexico with the No.9!

So, he should spend the rest of his career with the No. 88. There aren’t many competitive rides in the Cup for him to go to. So go to a series and a ride that you would win in and leave a better legacy than riding 28th with some mid-pack Cup team. Thanks a bunch for reading!