Zilisch admits non-NASCAR dream ‘all the time in back of – Sports News
Connor Zilisch continues to harbor desires of racing in Formula 1 as he climbs the ranks and impresses in NASCAR.
Zilisch has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in NASCAR. The 19-year-old has received at each stage he has competed in, and even took the checkered flag with Dale Earnhardt Jr. serving as his interim crew chief.
At Sonoma Raceway, Zilisch impressively defeated the in-form Shane van Gisbergen in a thrilling Xfinity Series race. Van Gisbergen has been in electric kind not too long ago, successful three of the final 5 Cup Series races, highlighting {the teenager}’s potential.
Zilisch is at present driving full-time with JR Motorsports and is contracted to Trackhouse Racing, the place he participates in a partial Cup program. He is set to be elevated into a everlasting Cup Series seat alongside Van Gisbergen subsequent yr.
While he’s attracting consideration and hitting headlines in NASCAR, Zilisch began his profession in karts and spent time in Europe. His unique aim was reaching Formala 1, and it nonetheless stays on his checklist of targets for the longer term.
“It’s always in the back of my mind,” mentioned Zilisch on the Stacking Pennies Podcast of a attainable F1 future. “Growing up it was my dream, I wanted to race F1. I went to Europe when I was a kid racing go-karts, it’s what I wanted to do. It’s just when I was younger, I didn’t really have the chance.
“Now with an American team [Cadillac] being brought to F1, having connections with Red Bull and being kinda tied in there, I’d say the chances aren’t zero.”
Cadillac is set to reach on the F1 grid for the 2026 season, however Zilisch hopes to ascertain himself in NASCAR first. He can be on the lookout for a multi-year dedication earlier than he entertains the thought of switching codes, even after his karting profession in Europe noticed him win the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy collection in 2020.
“If it were to happen, I’d have to go over there for at least a year, two years probably to even get enough Super Licence points to qualify,” Zilisch declared. “I’d run F3… I’d just run a bunch of ‘BS’ series to get Super Licence points. Middle East F3, random things that you can do to get the points.
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“That’s why it would be such a big commitment. I’d want to get settled in here first and know that if I go over there for two years I could come back and still have a job.”
Zilisch is actually intrigued by the thought of racing in completely different vehicles and collection. He added: “I’m not the guy who cares to win 250 races in NASCAR like a Kyle Busch or care to go for a win record. I want to win a championship here and I want to be successful, but I want to experience different series and different cultures and what there is to explore in the world of motorsports.”
Zilisch is subsequent in Xfinity Series motion in the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sat., July 26.
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