{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Connor Zilisch Interview","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/connor-zilisch-interview-932794f5-15ba-4032-934a-a8d2aa07f3d1","audioUrl":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/FOXM2375701679.mp3?updated=1771272118","description":"Kevin Harvick sits down with rising NASCAR talent Connor Zilisch ahead of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season on this episode of Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, diving into how Zilisch is preparing for the biggest opportunity of his young career. Zilisch reflects on his unconventional path to NASCAR, admitting he never expected to be racing stock cars, and discusses how Harvick’s mentorship helped guide key decisions along the way. The conversation explores his goals with Trackhouse Racing, what it means to represent Red Bull at the Cup level, and how he plans to handle expectations entering a new season. From career-defining advice to long-term aspirations, the interview offers insight into one of the sport’s most promising young drivers as he prepares to take the next step in 2026.\n\n0:00 - Intro\n\n0:34 - Connor Zilisch Joins The Show!\n\n1:59 - Early Journey In Racing\n\n12:19 - Racing For Justin Marks\n\n14:28 - Transitioning To A Full-Time Cup Series Driver\n\n16:20 - Expectations For This Season\n\n20:36 - Biggest Critics\n\n22:27 - Using Data\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices"},"annotations":[{"startTime":175.3,"endTime":175.7,"type":"concept","title":"Go Kart","url":"/glossary/go-kart","quote":"...my dad ended up buying himself and all three of us Go Karts, and we all went to the track together on the weekends.","canonicalId":"concept:go-kart","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Go Karts are small, lightweight vehicles designed for racing on tracks. They are often used for recreational racing and are a popular way for beginners to get into motorsports.","simplifiedExplanation":"Go Karts are tiny racing cars that people drive on special tracks. They're a fun way to learn about racing and driving fast."}},{"startTime":182.06,"endTime":187.32,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Corvette","url":"/cars/chevrolet/corvette","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Chevrolet_Corvette%2C_BAS_24%2C_Brussels_%28P1170387-RR%29.jpg","quote":"...he had a Corvette. He would take to the track on the weekends, and that was something that he just enjoyed doing.","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:corvette","priority":0.5,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Chevrolet Corvette is a high-performance sports car known for its powerful engines and sleek design. 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It's known for being modern and inclusive in the sport."}},{"startTime":206.0,"endTime":212.1,"type":"concept","title":"Carolina Motorsports Park","url":"/glossary/carolina-motorsports-park","quote":"...this was Carolina Motorsports Park in South Carolina, and it started out as a hobby...","canonicalId":"concept:carolina-motorsports-park","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Carolina Motorsports Park is a road course located in South Carolina that hosts various motorsport events, including car racing and driving schools. It is known for its challenging layout and is a popular venue for both amateur and professional racing.","simplifiedExplanation":"Carolina Motorsports Park is a racetrack in South Carolina where people can race cars and go-karts. It has different types of tracks for various racing events."}},{"startTime":219.2,"endTime":227.7,"type":"concept","title":"NASCAR","url":"/glossary/nascar","quote":"...I started racing in Europe in Go Karts, and, you know, I never expected to become a NASCAR driver one day. I never even had that idea in the back of my mind...","canonicalId":"concept:nascar","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"NASCAR, or the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is a popular motorsport organization in the United States known for its stock car racing series. It features a unique set of rules and a distinct racing culture, with events held on oval tracks and road courses.","simplifiedExplanation":"NASCAR is a type of car racing that uses specially designed cars called stock cars. It's very popular in the U.S. and involves racing on circular tracks."}},{"startTime":458.4,"endTime":463.9,"type":"concept","title":"world championship","url":"/glossary/world-championship","quote":"...to go race in the world championships in Italy, and there was 163 other kids in my class, and I ended up winning the world championship at 11 years old...","canonicalId":"concept:world-championship","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"A world championship in racing refers to a prestigious competition where drivers from around the globe compete for the title, showcasing their skills and talent on an international stage.","simplifiedExplanation":"A world championship is a big racing competition where drivers from different countries compete to see who is the best."}},{"startTime":505.3,"endTime":505.3,"type":"brand","title":"Chevy","url":"/glossary/chevy","quote":"...I met you and you were able to point me in the right direction, and, you know, obviously I met the people at Chevy at a young age...","canonicalId":"brand:chevy","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"Chevy, short for Chevrolet, is an American automobile brand known for producing a wide range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Chevy is a popular car brand in the United States that makes many different types of vehicles, like cars and trucks."}},{"startTime":609.3,"endTime":617.9,"type":"concept","title":"Formula 1","url":"/glossary/formula-1","quote":"I think nowadays, honestly, I think it's easier as an American, especially with Cadillac coming into F1 and also just with Drive to Survive. 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It's popular worldwide and features some of the best drivers and advanced technology."}},{"startTime":736.2,"endTime":744.5,"type":"car","title":"Mazda MX-5 Miata","url":"/cars/mazda/mx-5-miata","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/1990_Mazda_MX-5_Miata%2C_front_left%2C_06-08-2024.jpg","quote":"...I think I'm just going to get the Miata, send him to college and we'll see where it goes from there. But that was dad's plan...","canonicalId":"car:mazda:mx-5-miata","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a lightweight two-seater sports car known for its agile handling and fun driving experience. It has a long history in motorsports and is often used as an entry-level vehicle for aspiring racers.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Mazda MX-5 Miata is a small sports car that's fun to drive and popular among racing enthusiasts. It's known for being light and easy to handle, making it a great choice for new drivers in racing.","imageAttribution":"MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":754.9,"endTime":764.9,"type":"concept","title":"24 Hours of Daytona","url":"/glossary/24-hours-of-daytona","quote":"...at 24 hours a day Tona and all the sports car races used to be where all the NASCAR drivers, IndyCar drivers, sports car drivers gathered once a year. And obviously you get to experience that at a high level.","canonicalId":"concept:24-hours-of-daytona","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-4o-mini","data":{"explanation":"The 24 Hours of Daytona is a prestigious endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. It features a variety of sports cars and is part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, attracting top drivers from various racing disciplines.","simplifiedExplanation":"The 24 Hours of Daytona is a long car race that lasts a full day. 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