The O’Reilly Auto Parts (Xfinity) Series finale at Phoenix Raceway delivered a shocking twist for JR Motorsports’ rising phenom Connor Zilisch. He entered the race having already secured the Regular Season Championship and an astonishing 10 race victories. His consistency was nearly flawless, including an 18-race top-5 streak that defined the season’s middle stretch. However, when the lights were brightest at Phoenix, Zilisch confessed he was “never the best car,” struggling with grip in his No. 88 Chevrolet during the final long green-flag run. 

Following the final pit stop under caution, Zilisch executed a masterful restart to seize the lead, trying to fend off Jesse Love’s relentless pursuit. However, with just 24 laps remaining in the 200-lap race, Love closed the gap and executed the decisive pass on Lap 176. The heartbreak deepened in the closing laps when veteran Aric Almirola also slipped past the No. 88, dropping Zilisch to a third-place finish. But this win turned into another heartbreak after its conclusion.

From Championship heartbreak to World Series loss for Connor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch’s heartbreaking loss in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship to Jesse Love has had ripple effects beyond the stock car world. The 19-year-old, one of the most exciting prospects in American motorsport, has reportedly been forced to withdraw from a planned test with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA at the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Rookie Test in Bahrain on November 9. 

The test was intended to serve as both a reward and a milestone for Zilisch’s impressive dual-discipline racing journey, bridging the gap between his NASCAR dominance and his budding sports car career. However, missing out on the Xfinity Series title has reportedly had unintended licensing consequences. Zilisch’s runner-up finish left him short of the necessary ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States) licence points required to participate in the Bahrain Hypercar test.

As a result, his name was scratched from Cadillac’s official entry list. The setback adds another layer to what was already an emotional weekend for Zilisch, whose title bid came up just short in NASCAR’s winner-take-all championship finale. Still, Zilisch’s endurance racing ambitions appear far from over. The young star is expected to take part in the IMSA Daytona-sanctioned test with Action Express Racing later this year, where he would be eligible to drive the Cadillac V-Serie.R.

Unlike FIA’s Hypercar regulations, IMSA’s testing requirements differ, allowing Zilisch an alternative path to continue his prototype racing journey. Should his performance in the test impress the team, Zilisch could be in contention for a GTP seat at the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona. On the other hand, Zilisch’s path to this point has been nothing short of meteoric.

Beginning his career in karting, he captured the 2020 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy before moving into road course racing with stints in SCCA Spec Miata, Trans-Am TA2, and the ultra-competitive Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin. His IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut came in the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Era Motorsport, where, at just 17 years old, he helped deliver the team’s second LMP2class victory in 4 years.

That triumph made him one of the youngest class winners in Daytona 24 Hours history, a feat he followed up with another victory at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, sweeping the “36 Hours of Florida” in his debut season. While conquering endurance racing, Zilisch was simultaneously carving out his name in NASCAR.

After winning in the ARCA Menards Series and making an explosive Xfinity debut with JR Motorsports, he signed with Justin Marks’ Trackhouse Racing in 2024 and soon became one of the sport’s most talked-about rookies. His 2025 campaign saw him take 10 wins and set a new rookie record, even while battling injuries sustained at Talladega and Watkins Glen.

Along the way, he also became a Red Bull Athlete and made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas. Though his focus has shifted primarily to stock cars, Zilisch returned to the Rolex 24 earlier this year with Trackhouse and TF Sport, piloting a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. His story, still unfolding, is one defined by talent, resilience, and the rare ability to bridge two worlds of racing, and despite the Bahrain setback, his global racing ambitions remain very much alive. Although Justin Marks has something bigger in mind for the JRM phenom.

Trackhouse Racing’s bold vision could take Connor Zilisch beyond NASCAR

Connor Zilisch’s rise through NASCAR’s ranks continues to grab headlines, and it’s only getting bigger. “Have my name next to the word ‘Cup Series’ is really cool,” Zilisch said in July after his 2026 move to Trackhouse Racing was announced. The rising sensation will soon join Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen in a stacked three-car lineup, marking the next major step in what has already been a breakout career.

But Trackhouse isn’t stopping at NASCAR glory. Team owner Justin Marks revealed that the organization is exploring a potential Indianapolis 500 entry for Zilisch in the future, though not immediately. “It’s not a secret that I would like our company to race the Indy 500,” Marks said. “It’s got to be done the right way. I would like to do ‘The Double.’” The idea would see Zilisch attempt the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. 

While Marks admitted the timing would need to be perfect, he believes Zilisch is the ideal driver for such a daring crossover. “It’s dramatic and it’s risky and it can be a little uncomfortable with the timing and all that kind of stuff…I certainly don’t want to do it in his rookie year,” he noted. With Chevrolet partners like Arrow McLaren or Team Penske potentially in play, 2027 could be the earliest window for a partnership.

For Zilisch, whose versatility and hunger have already made him a fan favorite, the chance to chase motorsport’s ultimate double might be the next defining chapter.