Zilisch Open to F1, Focused on NASCAR

At just 19 years of age, Connor Zilisch has already built a résumé that many professional drivers might envy after a decade in competition. A class winner at the Rolex 24 at Daytona on his LMP2 debut two years ago, the American teenager is once again turning heads at the Florida endurance classic, this time stepping up to the GTP category with the Whelen Cadillac squad.

Zilisch’s current focus, however, lies firmly on the other side of the American motorsport landscape. In a matter of weeks, he will begin his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. It is a major milestone in a career that has already spanned an extraordinary variety of disciplines, from karting and sports cars to touring cars and stock cars.

His rise through the ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. Zilisch has claimed victories in ARCA, the Mazda MX-5 Cup, the CARS Tour, Trans-Am and IMSA competition, as well as in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Even before his professional breakthrough, he announced himself as a prodigious talent by winning the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. More recently, he has emerged as one of the few drivers consistently capable of challenging Shane van Gisbergen on road and street circuits, further underlining his adaptability.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Ten wins during his rookie NOAPS campaign in 2025, including a run of seven victories in eight starts, placed him firmly in the “generational talent” conversation. Only NASCAR’s now-abandoned one-race championship format prevented him from securing the title his performances arguably deserved.

Speaking during an appearance on Peacock’s Pitbox coverage at the Rolex 24, Zilisch was asked whether his ambitions might one day extend to Formula 1. With Cadillac set to join the F1 grid in the near future and Zilisch already aligned with the brand as a Red Bull-backed driver, the question felt far from fanciful.

“That’s something I dreamed of as a kid,” Zilisch admitted. “If I have a very successful first few years in NASCAR, it’s not something I wouldn’t say no to. I love Formula 1, but I also love what I’m doing in NASCAR. Racing on the biggest stage in America is incredible, and I get to do my first Daytona 500 in three weeks. Right now, my focus is absolutely here.”

While he left the door open to a potential move “this side of the pond” one day, Zilisch was clear that his immediate priorities lie with mastering stock car racing and making the most of the 38-weekend grind of the Cup Series.

Connor Zilisch – Career Highlights

For now, Formula 1 remains an intriguing “what if” rather than a concrete target. Zilisch’s attention is firmly on NASCAR’s summit, but his openness to future opportunities only adds to the sense that American motorsport may be nurturing one of its most versatile prospects in a generation.