Connor Zilisch next career move confirmed after – Sports News
Connor Zilisch’s next career move is set in movement simply days after a crushing NASCAR disappointment, whereas he additionally might probably one-up Kyle Larson.
The 19-year-old Xfinity Series runner-up will participate within the IMSA-sanctioned take a look at at Daytona International Speedway later this month, driving the #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh.
The take a look at, working from November 14–16, will see Zilisch, who confirmed his true colours after falling short of the Xfinity crown, share driving duties with Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber, and Frederik Vesti, a star-studded lineup that hints at Cadillac’s intent to guage him for a potential GTP drive in next 12 months’s 24 Hours of Daytona.
It’s a outstanding rebound for Zilisch, who was lately denied an alternative to take part within the FIA World Endurance Championship’s rookie take a look at in Bahrain resulting from a lack of ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States) license factors.
The missed likelihood got here as a direct consequence of his slim Xfinity Series loss, which value him not solely a championship however the factors required to satisfy worldwide eligibility requirements.
Zilisch had been the clear favourite for the 2025 Xfinity title after a season of dominance driving for JR Motorsports. He racked up 10 wins, 16 podiums, and an 18-race top-five streak that stretched deep into the playoffs.
But NASCAR’s contentious playoff format, usually criticized for favoring short-term efficiency over season-long excellence, in the end labored in opposition to him. Jesse Love handed Zilisch with 24 laps to go at Phoenix Raceway, snatching each the race victory and the championship.
Still, his friends throughout NASCAR had been fast to remind him that his career trajectory stays sky-high. Both Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin reached out to offer phrases of encouragement. Larson, recent off his second Cup Series title, texted Zilisch to inform him, “This isn’t going to change your career. I know it sucks.”
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Hamlin, who had misplaced his own title bid in time beyond regulation to Larson, echoed the sentiment, letting {the teenager} know that “people still believe in you.” Those gestures meant a lot to Zilisch, who later mentioned, “It helps to have people who let you know you still succeeded. It gives peace of mind.”
Now, the younger driver has a new purpose to look ahead. His upcoming Daytona take a look at marks his first time behind the wheel of an LMDh prototype, a large milestone for any American driver aiming to stability stock-car and endurance racing careers.
“Hopefully, we’re going to make the most of it and see if this can lead to more opportunities for me in the Cadillac,” Zilisch mentioned. “It would be super cool for me to be able to race at the highest levels of endurance racing — that’s always been a dream of mine.”
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