Connor Zilisch Suffers Fracture in Terrifying Fall After Watkins Glen Victory

Connor Zilisch Suffers Injury After Celebrating Watkins Glen Victory

NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch suffered a broken collarbone following a fall in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International. The incident occurred while celebrating his sixth win of the season. After winning the race, Zilisch was trying to climb onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped, apparently getting his left foot caught in the driver’s side window net, and fell awkwardly onto the asphalt. Zilisch, 19, was taken on a stretcher to the track’s medical center and then to a hospital for further evaluation. Two hours later, he posted on X that he had fractured his collarbone and that CT scans showed no head injuries.

Thank you all for reaching out today. I am already out of the hospital and improving. Grateful for all the doctors for their quick attention and grateful that it wasn’t worse.
Connor Zilisch

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1954351856035197346

Zilisch will not be available for the Cup race on Sunday at Watkins Glen. After competing in the Truck and Xfinity series the two previous days at the circuit, he was scheduled to complete a tripleheader by making his fourth Cup appearance this season for Trackhouse Racing. Trackhouse Racing announced that it would withdraw Zilisch’s No. 87 car from Sunday’s race.

Connor Zilisch celebrando su victoria en la Xfinity en Watkins Glen, resbaló y cayó al suelo. Fue trasladado a un hospital local, donde las pruebas mostraron que se rompió la clavícula.

The incident ended a day full of events for Zilisch, who races for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team. After starting from the pole position, Zilisch collided with teammate Shane van Gisbergen’s car while battling for the lead on lap 65. After being pushed from first place to fifth on a restart, Zilisch regained first place and led the final four laps.

He did a great job to get back on the field and take the lead. Praying for Connor right now to be okay. I think he’ll be fine.
Mardy Lindley, team leader

Zilisch missed a race earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway after suffering a back injury during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Since his return, he has achieved 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five victories.