NASCAR Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch is set to compete in IMSA’s Rolex 24 next month, officially joining the Action Express Racing group for the 2026 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Zilisch will make his third consecutive start in the twice-around-the-clock endurance classic, but his first in the premier GTP class. He’ll drive the No. 31 Cadillac Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R as a teammate to Earl Bamber, Jack Aitken and Frederik Vesti on Jan. 24-25, 2026.
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“I’m excited to be with Action Express Racing for the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” Zilisch said. “The Rolex 24 is one of my favorite races, and I’m thrilled to be with one of the best teams in the IMSA paddock. I’m very thankful to everyone at GM and Cadillac Racing for their help in making this happen. This is such a cool opportunity. We had a solid test in November at Daytona. I really enjoyed working with all the guys on the Whelen team and can’t wait to get back there for the race.”
Zilisch will move to the Cup Series next season as a Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate for Trackhouse Racing in the No. 88 Chevrolet. The 19-year-old driver’s rise to NASCAR’s top division comes after a sensational campaign with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series, where he won a tour-best 10 races and placed second in the final standings.
Zilisch’s Rolex 24 debut as a 17-year-old standout was a winning one, co-driving an Era Motorsport entry to victory in 2024 in the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class. Last year’s effort came in the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class, driving the Trackhouse by TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R with current NASCAR teammate Shane van Gisbergen, IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin and veteran sports-car racer Ben Keating.
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“The first time I came to Daytona racing was in (Mazda) MX-5 Cup, and I’ve loved it ever since,” Zilisch said, “and just being able to race in the 24 hours is something that I dreamed of as a kid, and that’s why I always come back and keep doing it. And, you know, it’s my third time doing it and my third different car that I’ve done it in. I’m just excited for the opportunity to even be here today and get this chance to test the car. It’s been such a dream of mine to get to drive in the highest class of IMSA, and doing that today has been really cool.”
MORE: 2026 IMSA schedule
The Action Express team — managed by veteran racing executive Gary Nelson — was a winner its last time out, claiming victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans 10-hour season finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta last October. The organization finished second in last year’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for GTP cars and is a seven-time champion in the Michelin North American Endurance Cup.
Cadillac will have a three-car lineup for the 2026 schedule, with two entries from Wayne Taylor Racing and one from Action Express.
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This year’s Rolex 24 is slated for a full grid of 61 cars racing in three classes. On-track preparations for the 24-hour race begin Jan. 16-18 with the Roar before the Rolex 24 event on the 3.56-mile Daytona course.
