{"id":64488,"date":"2025-08-12T17:32:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/64488\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T17:32:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:32:07","slug":"could-nascars-rising-star-connor-zilisch-make-the-jump-to-f1-with-cadillac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/64488\/","title":{"rendered":"Could NASCAR\u2019s Rising Star Connor Zilisch Make the Jump to F1 with Cadillac?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connor Zilisch hit the ground running in NASCAR<\/a> as he won in his Xfinity Series debut last year. Now in his first full season this year, he has collected six wins and stands atop the standings.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old\u2019s future seems bright, and according to an IndyCar star and F1 TV pundit, he is good enough to claim an F1 seat with Cadillac.<\/p>\n

Could Connor Zilisch\u2019s NASCAR Rise Lead to an F1 Switch with Cadillac?<\/p>\n

After seeing him race in the Xfinity and ARCA Menards Series, motorsports analyst James Hinchcliffe is convinced that Zilisch has the makings of a motorsports superstar. In a recent article on F1\u2019s official website,\u00a0<\/a>he named Zilisch one of five American drivers Cadillac should consider\u00a0for their team.<\/p>\n

IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe names five US-based drivers Cadillac should consider for their F1 arrival \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8#F1<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/dquh1owtzq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Formula 1 (@F1) August 11, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cZilisch had a promising road racing career going, winning in everything from Trans-Am cars to prototypes to stock cars,\u201d Hinchcliffe wrote for F1. He added, \u201cWithout the financial freedom to simply choose the route he wanted to go, opportunities came up in stock cars before anyone in the open wheel world took notice, and that is our loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCompeting full-time in the Xfinity Championship in 2025, he already has (six) wins in the season, including his first oval victory,\u201d the FOX Commentator continued. \u201cGiven his road racing background, it is incredibly impressive that he is now competitive on the types of track that a lot of the drivers he\u2019s racing against trained on exclusively on their rise to this level,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Hinchcliffe described Zilisch as \u2018one of the most adaptable drivers I\u2019ve ever seen\u2019 and believes he has what it takes to succeed in F1. The real question is whether Zilisch wants to pursue that path or stay the course and make his mark in NASCAR\u2019s Cup Series.<\/p>\n

Right now, however, Zilisch\u2019s main priority is recovery. After his win at Watkins Glen last weekend, he fell off his car and broke his collarbone. During a recent \u201cDoor Bumper Clear\u201d podcast appearance, the JR Motorsports driver revealed he might need surgery<\/a> to recover fully.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it might be something that I might have to get surgery for,\u201d Zilisch said. \u201cBut in this case, I think surgery is something that speeds up the process, so you can get plates and screws and get it reconstructed back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cShane (van Gisbergen) talked about it \u2014 he had an injury in 2021 and broke his collarbone \u2014 he had plates, screws, everything done, and he was racing back the next weekend. Thankfully, the collarbone is a relatively quick bone to fix and heal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zilisch was set to race in Sunday\u2019s Cup Series event at Watkins Glen, but Trackhouse Racing pulled the No. 87 car from the field due to his injury. There is no timetable for Zilisch\u2019s return. The series takes a break next weekend before resuming on August 22 at Daytona International Speedway for the Wawa 250.<\/p>\n

Notably, he\u2019s already missed one race this year with a back injury. Zilisch will not be happy to miss another race, but it does appear that Daytona might come too soon for him.<\/p>\n