After one of the most consistent and successful seasons in his career, Connor Zilisch ended up losing the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series title. However, his challenges have seemed to intensify following his failure to pass the FIA World Endurance Championship’s Bahrain Rookie Test.
The former JR Motorsports driver lost the Xfinity Championship to Jesse Love at the season finale in Phoenix last Saturday. Zilisch’s dominant rookie campaign featured 10 wins and an impressive streak of 18 consecutive top-5 finishes. But off the track, things took a downturn on Tuesday, November 4, when he was removed from Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s entry for the Bahrain test scheduled on November 9.
According to reports, the 19-year-old driver did not have the required ACCUS license points to test the Hypercar. As a result, the team scratched him from the event, dealing a blow to his budding endurance racing prospects.
In the season finale race, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love passed Zilisch’s No. 88 Chevy late in the race, clinching the title. Zilisch finished third, concluding a rookie season where he dominated much of the schedule and earned the most wins among rookies.
Looking ahead, Zilisch has exciting opportunities in store. He is set to move up to the NASCAR Cup Series next season with Trackhouse Racing, where he will replace Daniel Suarez in the No. 99 Chevy. Additionally, he is expected to appear on a provisional entry list for the IMSA Daytona-sanctioned test, which could open doors for a GTP ride at the 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona.
It’s worth noting that Zilisch already boasts impressive endurance racing credentials. Last year, at just 17 years old, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona in the LMP2 class and the 12 Hours of Sebring, becoming the youngest winner in either event.
When asked about Zilisch potentially racing in the Indianapolis 500, Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks expressed caution. He acknowledged the excitement and risks involved, citing Kyle Larson’s recent experiences. Marks said:
“Watching Larson go through that, it’s dramatic and it’s risky and it can be a little uncomfortable with the timing and all that kind of stuff, so if we decide to do something like that, Connor would certainly be at the top of our list. But to do that we have to do it the right way, and I certainly don’t want to do it his rookie year.”
This season, Connor Zilisch made three NASCAR Cup starts with Trackhouse Racing. He debuted at Circuit of the Americas and earned his best finish of 11th place at Atlanta in June.
As Zilisch prepares for the next chapter in his racing career, fans will be eager to see how he balances his transition to the Cup Series while exploring opportunities in endurance racing.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-connor-zilisch-s-championship-heartbreak-extends-track-loss-fia-hypercar-test
