Grateful Zilisch After Crash: “Lucky to Walk Away” at Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen, N.Y. – Connor Zilisch, with a smile and his left arm in a sling, returned to Watkins Glen International on Sunday to talk about his spectacular crash in the victory lane. After winning the Xfinity race on Saturday at the circuit, Zilisch suffered a hard fall while trying to celebrate on his No. 88 Chevrolet. The 19-year-old driver was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevrolet that he was supposed to drive in the Cup race on Sunday at Watkins Glen.

“First of all, I’m okay,” Zilisch said during the Cup race broadcast. “Very grateful to be able to get out of that, and I guess I didn’t walk out, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and be okay. Thanks to all the doctors who took care of me and everyone who contacted me and wished me the best. I appreciate it very much.”

Connor ZilischAfter his sixth win of the season, Zilisch realized he was in trouble immediately after the chaos began in victory lane, a typically frenetic place where winning team members celebrate and throw drinks while their driver exits the car.

“Yes, I was getting out of the car and, obviously, the window net was on the door, and as soon as they started spraying water, my foot slipped,” he recounted. “And the last thing I remember was being halfway out and falling, so I’m glad it wasn’t worse, and that the collarbone is the extent of the injuries, but I hate that I couldn’t make it to today’s race.”

Connor Zilisch

The question now is whether Zilisch will be ready for the next Xfinity race on August 22 at the Daytona International Speedway. “We are still working with all the doctors to figure out what the next steps will be,” Zilisch said. He has already proven to be a fast healer this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway due to a back injury from an accident at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had achieved 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five victories since his return. He mentioned that his Trackhouse teammate, Shane van Gisbergen, “got in once and raced the following weekend. So I don’t know if I’ll be that fast, but I hope my young bones heal quickly and I can get back to racing as soon as possible.”