NASCAR star Connor Zilisch gets Daytona test chance in Cadillac LMDh

NASCAR Xfinity runner-up Connor Zilisch will drive an LMDh prototype for the first time in the IMSA-sanctioned test at Daytona.

The 19-year-old will share the #31 Action Express Racing Cadillac V-Series.R with Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti at the Daytona International Speedway on 14-16 November.

The American, who has already scored two LMP2 class victories in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, is being evaluated for a GTP drive with the factory Cadillac squad for next year’s season-opening Daytona 24 Hours.

“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,” he said. “That’s always been a dream of mine.”

The announcement of the Daytona test comes just days after it emerged that Zilisch was denied a chance to drive the Cadillac LMDh in the World Endurance Championship’s Bahrain rookie test due to a lack of ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States) license points.

Zilisch was the favourite for this year’s Xfinity title, but was denied the top prize by Jesse Love due to NASCAR’s increasingly controversial playoff system.

The title loss also led to him failing to accumulate the necessary ACCUS license points required for the Bahrain test.

The teenager is set to move up to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 with Trackhouse Racing, where he is tipped to replace Daniel Suarez.

Cadillac Formula 1 reserve Colton Herta, who is switching to F2 next year to pursue his ambitions in grand prix racing, will also be driving the V-Series.R for the first time in the Daytona test.

Herta, who won the 2024 Sebring 12 Hours for Acura and also has race experience in the BMW M Hybrid V8, will drive for Wayne Taylor Racing in the official IMSA test at the famous Florida venue.

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— The Motorsport.com Team