DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two years ago at Media Day for the Rolex 24, Connor Zilisch was a wide-eyed 17-year-old kid who had nearly won the Mazda MX-5 Cup championship and was about to embark on a stock car career.
He went nearly unnoticed in a room packed with sports car and IndyCar stars, and even a few drivers with Formula 1 pedigree.
Fast forward 24 months and Zilisch – who nearly won the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series (now O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) championship and is moving up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing – was arguably the most in-demand driver at Thursday’s Media Day for the 2026 Rolex 24.
He’s still just 19, but Zilisch has emerged as a major star wherever he competes. And while he’s set to enjoy a long and prosperous career at NASCAR’s top level, the young North Carolina native will always hold sports car racing in high esteem.
“It’s certainly been a wild ride,” Zilisch reflected. “Since the first time I was here 24 months ago today, a lot has changed in my life, and for the better. I’m super grateful.”
Zilisch co-drove to the LMP2 class victory for Era Motorsport in his Rolex 24 debut, and he’s set to make his third start in the Daytona enduro on January 24.
Not surprisingly given his meteoric career path, he’ll compete in the top GTP class, in the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R. It’s his third class in as many seasons, after the LMP2 debut and a one-off Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) appearance in 2025 as part of an all-star Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R he shared with Scott McLaughlin, Shane van Gisbergen and Ben Keating.
“I get to race in the GTP class for the first time and try to chase a Rolex watch with three other teammates who don’t have one yet. It’s going to be an awesome weekend for all of us,” he said. “I hope I can come back and do this event every year if possible.”
