NBA top rookie Cooper Flagg gets a ride from NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch

TL;DR

NBA rookie Cooper Flagg rode with NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch before a race in Texas. Flagg, recently named NBA Rookie of the Year, enjoyed his first NASCAR experience while connecting with Zilisch about their young careers.

Key points

Cooper Flagg is the NBA Rookie of the Year.
Flagg rode with NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch before a race.
This was Flagg's first experience at a NASCAR track.

Cooper FlaggConnor ZilischNASCARNBA

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — NBA top rookie Cooper Flagg got a fast ride on the track Sunday before the NASCAR race in Texas with another 19-year-old, Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch. A week after being named the NBA Rookie of the Year, the Dallas Mavericks' 6-foot-9 forward was the honorary pace car driver for the race in Texas. But several hours before leading the 38-car field to the green flag at the 1 1/2-mile track, Flagg was the passenger in that 2026 Chevrolet Corvette. It was driven then by Zilisch, who is in his first full Cup season with Trackhouse Racing after winning 10 races in NASCAR's second-tier series last year. “We got going pretty fast, and I think half the ride I was more scared of what was going on,” Flagg said. “I've never been in a car going that fast, so it was pretty cool.” Zilisch was driving well over 100 mph while giving Flagg an up-close look at the track. So what do a couple of 19-year-old guys talk about while going around the track? “I don’t know much about racing, but I think just being able to connect on the fact that we’re both young in our respective sports ... that was really cool, and to be able to talk to someone that’s going through a lot of similar things at a time in your life," Flagg said. "There’s just not many people that have been through this type of stuff at this age, so I think it was cool to connect on that.” It was the first time Flagg, who was born and grew up in Maine, has been to any NASCAR track. But his parents in 1999 started going regularly to races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with Tony Stewart being their favorite driver. Flagg said his parents, who were with him, hadn't been to a NASCAR race in a while since they got busy following him and his two brothers. During their visit to Texas, they got to meet personally with seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, four-time champ Jeff Gordon and owner-driver Denny Hamlin. Flagg set a host of records as an NBA teenager and edged his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel for the NBA rookie award announced last Monday. Flagg was the first rookie since Michael Jordan, now a NASCAR owner, in 1984-85 to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. \\_ AP NBA: and AP auto racing:

Q&A

What did Cooper Flagg do before the NASCAR race in Texas?

Cooper Flagg served as the honorary pace car driver and rode with NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch in a Chevrolet Corvette.

How did Cooper Flagg perform in his rookie NBA season?

Cooper Flagg was named NBA Rookie of the Year, leading his team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.

What was Cooper Flagg's experience like riding with Connor Zilisch?

Flagg described the ride as thrilling and a bit scary, as Zilisch drove over 100 mph while they connected over their experiences in sports.

NBA top rookie Cooper Flagg gets a ride from NASCAR rookie Connor Zilisch

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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