Connor Zilisch is set to make his first laps behind the wheel of the #31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R LMDh next week at Daytona International Speedway.

Zilisch is no stranger to the IMSA paddock, having made his professional debut in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup, where he quickly established himself as one of sports car racing’s most promising young drivers. His early success opened the door to a 2024 campaign with ERA Motorsports in LMP2 competition, where he helped deliver the team class victories at both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Later that season, he joined Trackhouse by TF Sport for another Rolex 24 outing as part of a star-studded driver lineup.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year and 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona LMP2 class winner continues to add to an already remarkable résumé at just 19 years old.

Zilisch’s momentum carried over into his first full Xfinity Series campaign with JR Motorsports, where he delivered one of the most dominant rookie seasons in series history. He captured 10 wins, including the organization’s milestone 100th victory, and earned the Rookie of the Year title. His breakout year has since propelled him to a 2026 NASCAR Cup Series opportunity with Trackhouse Racing, further cementing his place as one of motorsports’ most versatile rising stars.

The Mooresville, North Carolina native was initially scheduled to take part in the WEC Rookie Test at Bahrain this weekend. However, after narrowly missing the Xfinity Series championship and falling short of the required FIA Super License points, Zilisch was removed from the entry list.

Despite that setback, his upcoming test with Action Express Racing and Cadillac Racing marks another major step toward the top level of endurance racing.

“Hopefully, we’re going to make the most of it and see if this can lead to more opportunities for me in the Cadillac because it would be super cool for me to be able to race at the highest levels of endurance racing,” said Zilisch in the team’s official release. “That’s always been a dream of mine.”

With Daytona serving as the stage for his first laps in prototype machinery at the premier level, Zilisch’s test signals another milestone in a career already defined by rapid growth across multiple disciplines—from NASCAR ovals to IMSA road courses, and perhaps soon, the world stage of endurance racing.