Connor Zilisch, one of NASCAR’s most promising young talents, has recently been linked to a potential wildcard appearance in the Supercars series at Adelaide. The whispers began surfacing after discussions in the United States during the Xfinity Series season, and they have gained traction with speculation on social media and fan pages. If true, the move could see Zilisch stepping into Australian touring car competition, following in the footsteps of Austin Cindric’s Ford-backed Adelaide wildcard, while also strengthening GM’s presence in the event.
Key Highlights
Connor Zilisch is reportedly being considered for a Supercars wildcard entry at Adelaide.
GM may use the opportunity to counter Ford’s Austin Cindric deal.
Apex Hunters United posted an AI image showing Zilisch on the Adelaide grid.
Zilisch is set to join Trackhouse Racing full-time in the Cup Series next year.
Team 18 is the likely contender to field the additional Camaro for the wildcard entry.
Early Talks and Whispers
The idea of Zilisch making a one-off appearance in Supercars first emerged in conversations between drivers and insiders during NASCAR events in the United States. Will Brown, co-host of the Lucky Dogs podcast alongside Brodie Kostecki, noted that the topic came up while he was racing in the Xfinity Series.
“There was also talk, and I have no idea, but I thought someone was talking about Connor Zilisch maybe doing a wildcard.” – Will Brown
Brown explained that multiple people had asked about the possibility, indicating early interest in seeing Zilisch take on the Adelaide street circuit.
Apex Hunters United Brings Speculation to Light
The chatter moved into the public eye when Apex Hunters United, a fan platform founded by Scott Pye and Shane van Gisbergen, released an AI-generated image of Zilisch and Cindric on the Adelaide grid. The post even featured the playful addition of “Forklift Rentals” on Zilisch’s car, implying Team 18 as a potential entry.
“This was getting thrown around a bit when we were over there. A few people asked us, ‘is Connor actually coming out and doing a wildcard [in Supercars]?’” – Will Brown
AHU had previously been first to post about Cindric’s wildcard, lending credibility to their coverage of Zilisch’s potential entry. The platform’s ties to van Gisbergen, who shares a team with Zilisch at Trackhouse Racing, also provide added weight to the speculation.
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Potential Teams and Logistics
If GM decides to fund the program, Team 18 could field an additional Camaro for the wildcard event. The team currently serves as GM’s homologation outfit in the series. PremiAir Racing had initially prepared to run Kyle Larson as a wildcard, though that plan has been canceled, potentially freeing up capacity for another entry.
Zilisch’s presence on the Adelaide grid would align with GM’s broader strategy to challenge Ford, specifically Austin Cindric, who has already been announced for a one-off appearance. The wildcard scenario would allow GM to showcase young talent while strengthening the brand’s visibility in the international motorsport arena.
Zilisch’s Rising Career
At 19 years old, Connor Zilisch is already regarded as one of NASCAR’s most exciting prospects. He competes regularly in the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports and has demonstrated strong performance on both ovals and road courses. Zilisch gained international attention earlier this year after falling from his car while celebrating a victory at Watkins Glen, an incident that resulted in a broken collarbone but did not slow his momentum.
Zilisch is set to step up to the Cup Series full time next year alongside Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain at Trackhouse Racing.
His rapid progression in NASCAR, combined with a potential Supercars appearance, would cement his status as a globally recognized young talent capable of excelling across multiple disciplines.
News in Brief: Trackhouse Rising Star Connor Zilisch Linked to Supercars
Connor Zilisch has been linked to a potential Supercars wildcard at Adelaide, potentially fielded by Team 18 and funded by GM. The speculation emerged during discussions in the U.S. and was highlighted by Apex Hunters United, who posted an AI image of Zilisch on the Adelaide grid alongside Austin Cindric. Zilisch, 19, is a rising NASCAR star set to join Trackhouse Racing full time next year with van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain.
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