The 2026 Rolex 24 at Daytona ended with Team Penske securing first place, while Connor Zilisch‘s No. 31 Whelen Cadillac narrowly missed the top spot. Piloted by Jack Aitken, Zilisch’s #31 car finished just 1.569 seconds behind the No. 7 Penske Motorsport Porsche 963, driven by Felipe Nasr.
This outcome marks Team Penske’s third straight victory, an achievement last matched by Helio Castroneves, who won consecutively from 2021 to 2023 driving for Wayne Taylor Racing and Meyer Shank Racing. Both of those teams also recorded top-10 finishes in this year’s race, underscoring their continued competitiveness.
Other Leading Teams and Noteworthy Competitors at the Race
Acura Meyer Shank Racing with Curb Agajanian placed fifth, fielding drivers including IndyCar champion Alex Palou, alongside Renger van der Zande, Nick Yelloly, and Kakunoshin Ohta. Wayne Taylor Racing finished sixth with a strong lineup of Colton Herta, Louis Deletraz, and Jordan Taylor. Additionally, NASCAR star AJ Allmendinger participated, driving the No. 60 Acura MSR to a ninth-place finish.
The race experienced a significant interruption due to heavy fog overnight, triggering a caution period lasting six hours and thirty-three minutes—the longest caution in motorsports history. Racing resumed just before seven in the morning.
Winners Across Various Racing Categories
Victories in other classes at the Rolex 24 were claimed by several teams. The No. 04 Crowdstrike Racing team, including Toby Sowery, Alex Quinn, Malthe Jakobsen, and George Kurtz, took first place in the LMP2 category. Paul Miller Racing, with Max Hesse, Connor De Phillippi, Neil Verhagen, and Dan Harper, secured the GTD Pro win. In the GTD category, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Russell Ward, Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis, and Lucas Auer, emerged victorious.
Connor Zilisch Considers Prospects for the Indy 500
Following an impressive rookie season with 10 wins in the Xfinity Series, Connor Zilisch is preparing for his Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing. Recognized for his exceptional road course skills, comparable to Shane van Gisbergen’s, Zilisch is contemplating an attempt at the Indy 500.
“I feel like it’s pretty realistic to think that it could be a possibility, but a lot of it depends on how my first few years in Cup go. You know, if I do well and I feel like I’m in a spot where, you know, I can go and travel and do some things away from the NASCAR scene, then it could definitely be in play. But, yeah, it’s definitely on my bucket list. It’s something I want to do.” – Connor Zilisch, Racing Driver
This year, NASCAR is reinstating the Chase championship format, and Zilisch shared his thoughts on how this change might affect his chances for a title.
“I mean obviously winning is probably the easier way in for me, but by no means does that mean I prefer the playoffs. So, yeah, I think it’s good for everybody. I think everybody on the team side is happy with it,” he told Pockrass.
Strong Consistency and Ambitions for the Future
Zilisch’s performance last year demonstrated both winning ability and consistency, with a remarkable streak of 16 consecutive top-5 finishes. His adaptability and determination position him well for upcoming challenges, both in NASCAR’s evolving formats and potential ventures beyond, such as the Indy 500. As he continues to build his career, his Daytona finish stands out as a major milestone.
