{
  "id": 1519337,
  "title": "Connor Zilisch to drive the No. 48 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2028",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/connor-zilisch-to-drive-the-no-48-chevy-for-hendrick-motorsports",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T16:56:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/connor-zilisch-drive-no-48-165645880.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Monday, Connor Zilisch inked a multiyear agreement with Hendrick Motorsports to pilot the No. 48 Chevrolet starting in 2028. The 20-year-old rookie, currently racing for Trackhouse Racing, will supplant Alex Bowman in the driver's seat. Bowman revealed last month his decision to retire from full-time racing at the end of the 2027 season. Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, praised Zilisch, stating, \"Connor is a truly gifted young racer.\" Hendrick further commended the driver's character, emphasizing that possessing such talent and integrity makes it imperative to incorporate him into their organization. Zilisch presently stands at 34th in the Cup Series standings, having accumulated a team-high eight DNFs throughout the season. In his statement, Zilisch expressed his dream-like realization, stating, \"Hendrick Motorsports has always represented the standard in our sport, and being entrusted to help maintain that legacy means everything to me.\" The No. 48 Chevrolet will retain Ally as its primary sponsor, as they have since 2019.",
  "summary": "Connor Zilisch signed a multiyear contract with Hendrick Motorsports on Monday to drive the No. 48 Chevrolet beginning in 2028. Zilisch, a 20-year-old rookie currently driving for Trackhouse Racing, will replace Alex Bowman behind the wheel. Bowman announced last month that he will step away from full-time racing at the end of the 2027 season.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Kyle Larson delivers honest verdict on Hendrick Motorsports’ championship readiness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/kyle-larson-delivers-honest-verdict-on-hendrick-motorsports",
        "published": "2026-08-15T20:30:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Motorsport.com",
        "title": "Connor Zilisch signs with Hendrick Motorsports for 2028 in multi-year deal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/connor-zilisch-signs-with-hendrick-motorsports-for-2028-in-multi-year",
        "published": "2026-08-17T16:15:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Connor Zilisch to drive the No. 48 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2028",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/connor-zilisch-to-drive-the-no-48-chevy-for-hendrick-motorsports-1520140",
        "published": "2026-08-17T16:56:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}