Connor Zilisch Denied Championship and WEC Test Opportunity
In a dramatic finish to the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, Connor Zilisch narrowly missed the championship title to Jesse Love, a result that has significant implications for his racing future. Zilisch, widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s premier young talents, will not participate in the upcoming FIA WEC Rookie Test for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA on November 9 in Bahrain due to insufficient ACCUS license points.
Initially, this test was viewed as a potential milestone in Zilisch’s burgeoning sports car career, following a series of impressive performances. However, his loss in the championship resulted in the cancellation of his opportunity to drive the Cadillac Hypercar.
Despite this setback, Zilisch’s prospects for an LMDh program remain intact. Sources confirm he will be included on the provisional entry list for the IMSA Daytona Sanctioned Test later this week. Zilisch is eligible to drive with Cadillac Whelen (Action Express Racing) in the GTP-class Cadillac V-Series.R, due to differing requirements between FIA and IMSA-sanctioned events.
If Zilisch performs well at the IMSA test, he may be considered for a GTP drive in the 2026 Rolex 24 At Daytona. Although Action Express and Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing have announced their primary drivers for the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, they have yet to finalize additional team members for the season opener.
Zilisch’s trajectory in motorsport has been nothing short of remarkable. With a successful background in karting, highlighted by the 2020 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, he transitioned to road course racing in series such as SCCA Spec Miata and the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup. His IMSA debut came in the 2024 Rolex 24 At Daytona with Era Motorsport, where he became one of the youngest drivers to win in any class, followed by a victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
In the same year, Zilisch excelling in both IMSA and stock car racing, signing a developmental contract with Trackhouse Racing. He finished second in the ARCA Menards Series West championship and made an impressive debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, claiming 10 wins, the most for a rookie in series history, despite suffering injuries that sidelined him during pivotal moments.
Most recently, Zilisch secured a full-time position in the NASCAR Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing, continuing to balance his rising stock car commitments with aspirations in endurance racing, including a return to the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year, driving for Trackhouse and TF Sport.
As Zilisch prepares for future tests and races, he remains a key figure to watch in both the Xfinity and IMSA arenas.
