Imagine this: a young NASCAR hopeful, Connor Zilisch, casually chatting with Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen. Sounds like a dream, right? But what if I told you their friendship blossomed over a dinner? It's true, and the story behind it is more surprising than you might think.
It all started with a seemingly random encounter at a Red Bull event. Zilisch, standing proudly beside his No. 87 car, playfully asked Verstappen, "You want to get in?" Verstappen's response? "I mean, I would like to do it." A lighthearted moment, yes, but it hinted at a deeper connection waiting to be revealed.
But here's where it gets controversial... The real architect of this unlikely friendship wasn't happenstance, but another racing star: Shane van Gisbergen (SVG).
The story unfolds roughly a year ago in Texas, during a low-key racers' dinner. Zilisch found himself sharing a table with Verstappen, all thanks to SVG's invitation. This wasn't some glamorous, red-carpet affair. Instead, the bond was forged during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when real-world racing came to a screeching halt. Remember when everyone turned to online simulators like iRacing?
Zilisch explained it best on Kenny Wallace's podcast: "I went to dinner with him [Max] about a year ago in Texas. I went down there to film a video with SVG and the other two Red Bull F1 drivers... Shane is actually pretty good friends with Max because during COVID, when everyone was on iRacing... SVG and Max were teammates, so they became close friends. I was down there filming with SVG, and he invited me to dinner with him and Max."
So, a shared passion for virtual racing laid the groundwork for a real-world connection. Who would have thought?
This casual dinner turned the tables against Zilisch, a young racer from Charlotte who dreamed of F1 tracks as a kid but ended up in the world of NASCAR. Away from the flashing lights and constant media attention, Verstappen seemed to shed his public persona and just be himself.
And this is the part most people miss... Zilisch got a glimpse of the real Max Verstappen – a guy driven by the thrill of the race, not the fame that comes with it.
"He's definitely a lot different than the public kind of makes him out to be," Zilisch revealed. "He's just another one of us. He's a racer. He likes racing, you know, just wants to go to the track and win races and not have to worry about the life that he lives."
It was a revelation! The Dutch phenom, who debuted in F1 at a mere 17 years old and has been dominating the sport since 2021, simply craves the raw competition. Much like Zilisch, who's chasing checkered flags in his JR Motorsports Chevy, without getting caught up in the glitz and glamour.
Their connection was instant. The easy banter they shared resurfaced months later in Austria, where Zilisch, half-jokingly, asked Verstappen about trying out his stock car. Verstappen's enthusiastic "I would like to do it" echoed their earlier dinner conversation, highlighting their shared desire for new challenges.
Zilisch summed it up with admiration: "He's a guy that I feel like would race anything if he was given the opportunity and had the time to do so, so I definitely respect him and look up to him. He's obviously crazy talented, and hopefully one day he'll get over here and get the chance to race either some stock cars or sports cars or something."
Verstappen himself has fueled these rumors, stating back in 2021 that he'd "like to try NASCAR one day. It's something different, and I think it would be a fun challenge." With SVG's shocking victory on the Chicago street course in 2023, Verstappen's potential trial run feels less like a fantasy and more like the next chapter in their unfolding story.
As Zilisch continues his ascent in NASCAR, his off-track relationships with global racing icons like Verstappen only enhance his competitive edge, blending the precision of F1 with the grit of NASCAR.
Zilisch Dominates Xfinity Series
Meanwhile, Connor Zilisch's dominance in the 2025 Xfinity Series is undeniable. His regular-season championship and impressive 10 wins have cemented his position as the clear favorite, with odds at -170. From securing pole positions at COTA to navigating rain-soaked victories at Dover, Zilisch's performance allows him to race strategically as he enters the chaos of Talladega.
At just 19 years old, he's already surpassed legendary streaks, achieving four consecutive victories mid-season and an astonishing 18 consecutive top-five finishes. This performance validates Trackhouse's decision to promote him to a Cup ride in 2026.
However, his rivals are feeling the pressure. Sheldon Creed, facing longshot odds of +2800 after a challenging race in Vegas, acknowledges the handling issues that are holding him back: "We'll be pretty good in practice, and then we start the race like 10 out of 10 loose, so that was challenging at the start."
It's a classic playoff battle, where Creed's Joe Gibbs Racing team is constantly tweaking the setup race after race, drawing inspiration from his 2024 ARCA championship. However, Zilisch's consistent performance transforms these challenges into mere background noise.
Sam Mayer, another Gibbs contender in the mix, echoes the need for fine-tuning to stay competitive. "Even though it wasn't the best, we still made it better, but there's always room for improvement," he commented after struggling on restarts.
Mayer's youth mirrors Zilisch's, but his three wins pale in comparison to Zilisch's impressive record. Zilisch's ability to bounce back from setbacks, like his post-collarbone injury win in Portland, highlights his unwavering momentum. As Phoenix looms as the final race, Zilisch's path to victory seems clear, a testament to the karting roots that ignited his passion for speed.
So, what do you think? Is Verstappen destined to try his hand at NASCAR? And how far can Zilisch go in the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
