Connor Zilisch Suffers Fracture in Victory Lane After Shocking Fall at Watkins Glen

Connor Zilisch Suffers Injury After Celebrating Watkins Glen Victory

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

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

Connor Zilisch

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/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 road course, he was scheduled to complete a tripleheader by making his fourth Cup start this season for Trackhouse Racing. Trackhouse Racing announced that it would withdraw Zilisch’s No. 87 car from Sunday’s race.

The incident occurred after an eventful day 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 the lead to fifth place on a restart, Zilisch regained first place and led the final four laps.

He did a great job to come back and take the lead. Praying for Connor right now to be okay. I think he will be okay.

Mardy Lindley, team principal

Zilisch missed a race earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway after suffering a back injury during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. He has 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.