Connor Zilisch committed to NASCAR, would 'definitely' consider racing in Formula One
This season, Connor Zilisch will make his full-time NASCAR Cup Series debut for Trackhouse Racing. The 19-year-old has as much hype behind him as any motorsport prospect in recent memory.
Zilisch has already raced and won across several disciplines of racing. To this point, Zilisch has focused on his NASCAR career ahead of making a run at Formula One. He once again on Saturday expressed his commitment to stock car racing, though he left the door open for one day racing for Cadillac in F1.
“That’s something I dreamed of as a kid,” Zilisch said on Peacock Pitbox during the Rolex 24 broadcast, via Motorsport. “If I have a very successful first few years in NASCAR it’s not something I wouldn’t say no to. I love F1 racing but honestly, I love what I’m doing in NASCAR as well. It’s so much fun to get to race on the biggest stage in America. I get to do the Daytona 500 in three weeks for the first time. I’m certainly excited and infused in everything I’m doing in the NASCAR world, and it’s got my attention at this time with 38 weekends.
“You never know, one day, if that opportunity comes about and I feel like I’ve done all I needed to do this side of the pond, I would definitely think about it.”
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Connor Zilisch set for first season in Cup Series
Zilisch competed for Cadillac in this weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway. The 2026 season will be Cadillac’s first in F1. The connection is there. But right now, Zilisch’s main focus is on his rookie season in Cup.
His first season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series proved to be a successful one. He won a season-high 10 races, overcoming a broken collarbone which required surgery. However, Zilisch’s P3 finish in the season finale Phoenix Raceway wasn’t enough to give him the championship. Jesse Love won the race and the title.
Zilisch will compete on a part-time basis for JR Motorsports in the O’Reilly Series in 2026 while simultaneously competing full-time in Cup. Zilisch is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2026 Cup Rookie of the Year Award.