Friendships in racing can ignite in the most unexpected ways, and Connor Zilisch’s bond with Max Verstappen is a perfect example. What started as a casual invitation at a Red Bull event—Zilisch jokingly asking Verstappen if he wanted to hop into his No. 87 car—evolved into a genuine connection rooted in a shared passion for racing. But here’s where it gets intriguing: the foundation of their friendship wasn’t laid on the track, but over a dinner table in Texas, thanks to a nudge from Shane van Gisbergen. And this is the part most people miss—it all began during the COVID-19 lockdown, when real-world racing was paused, and iRacing became the virtual arena where these stars collided.
During a laid-back evening in Texas, Zilisch found himself sharing a meal with Verstappen, a moment orchestrated by van Gisbergen, who had grown close to the F1 champion during their iRacing days. As Zilisch recounted on Kenny Conversations, “I went to dinner with him [Max] about a year ago in Texas. Shane is actually pretty good friends with Max because during COVID, when everyone was on iRacing, they became close friends. I was down there filming with Shane, and he invited me to dinner with him and Max.”
But here’s the controversial part: could a friendship between a rising NASCAR star and an F1 world champion ever truly bridge the gap between their vastly different racing worlds? For Zilisch, a Charlotte native who grew up dreaming of F1 tracks but found his calling in NASCAR, the dinner revealed a side of Verstappen that fans rarely see. Away from the podium lights and media glare, Verstappen was just another racer, driven by the thrill of competition rather than the glamour of his celebrity status. “He’s definitely a lot different than the public makes him out to be,” Zilisch shared. “He’s just another one of us. He’s a racer.”
This revelation sparked an instant connection, leading to easy banter that resurfaced months later in Austria. Zilisch casually asked Verstappen about trying out his stock car, to which Verstappen replied, “I would like to do it.” This exchange wasn’t just friendly banter—it was a shared itch for new challenges, a desire to push boundaries beyond their respective domains.
And this is where it gets even more intriguing: could Verstappen’s rumored interest in NASCAR become a reality? Zilisch certainly thinks so. “He’s a guy that I feel like would race anything if given the opportunity,” Zilisch said. “I definitely respect him and look up to him. Hopefully one day he’ll get the chance to race some stock cars or sports cars.” Verstappen himself has fueled these rumors, telling Autosport in 2021, “I would like to try NASCAR one day. It’s something different, and I think it would be a fun challenge.” With van Gisbergen’s 2023 Chicago street course victory as a precedent, this dream feels less like fantasy and more like an inevitable next chapter.
As Zilisch continues his pursuit of NASCAR stardom, his off-track connections with global stars like Verstappen only sharpen his edge, blending F1 precision with NASCAR grit. At just 19, Zilisch’s dominance in the 2025 Xfinity Series—with 10 wins and a regular-season crown—has cemented him as the favorite. But rivals like Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer are hot on his heels, tweaking their setups and strategies to close the gap. Creed, despite a bumpy Vegas run, remains optimistic, while Mayer acknowledges the fine-line adjustments needed to stay competitive.
So, here’s the question for you: Do you think Verstappen will make the leap to NASCAR, or is it just wishful thinking? And more importantly, how do these cross-discipline friendships shape the future of racing? Let us know in the comments—this is a conversation worth having!
