Off weekend helped Connor Zilisch get refreshed ahead of stretch run to close rookie year

Connor Zilisch's rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series has been a rough one, but the 20-year-old rookie is feeling refreshed after an off-week fishing trip as he prepares to head to Iowa Speedway for Sunday's Iowa Corn 350. 

Iowa is the start of the 14-race run to the end of the 2026 NASCAR season for Zilisch and the Cup Series field. 

"I definitely think that it's good to get away from things for a little bit," Zilisch said Tuesday on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. "It certainly helps reset your mind and allows you to get away from it. Getting away from it excites me to get back into it. It's going to be fun to go to Iowa this weekend. 

"Once you get 14, 15 weeks in a row it eventually starts to wear on you. It's good to have one off. It's going to be good to get back behind the wheel this weekend and get back into the swings of things."

Connor Zilisch needed off week in the worst way

Zilisch enters Sunday's race 34th of 35 drivers in the Cup Series standings after what has been an unlucky and unforgiving rookie season. His eight DNFs lead the Cup Series, and only one other driver — Josh Berry, who has five and sits 33rd in the standings — has more than half that total. 

Needless to say, Zilisch and the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing group are hoping the off week is what they needed to recalibrate and improve over the final 14 weeks of the 2026 campaign.