Auto racers have had their share of injuries from high-speed crashes over the years, but for Connor Zilisch, danger struck him after a victory.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader broke his collarbone after a hard fall in victory lane at Watkins Glen International, according to the Associated Press.
After his series-leading sixth victory, Zilisch was climbing onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped after apparently getting his left foot caught in the driver’s side window netting and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt.
Zilisch, who turned 19 in July, was taken on a backboard to the trackside medical center and then transported to a hospital for further evaluation.
He posted on X about two hours later that he had a broken collarbone, and that CT scans showed no head injury.
“Thank you everybody for reaching out today,” posted Zilisch, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team.. “I’m out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn’t any worse.”
The scary incident capped an eventful day for Zilisch.
After starting from the pole position, he wrecked teammate Shane van Gisbergen while battling for the lead on Lap 65.
Watkins Glen International on Aug. 9, 2025. @speedwaydigest / X
After being bumped from the lead to fifth on a restart, Zilisch retook first and led the final four laps.
“He did such a great job of getting back through the field and getting the lead,” crew chief Mardy Lindley told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after the race. “Praying for Connor right now that he’s OK. I think he’s going to be fine.”
Zilisch, who picked up his sixth victory this season in the Xfinity Series and seventh overall in the series, was scheduled to race in Sunday afternoon’s Go Bowling at The Glen Cup Series race, but there was no update if he would be to race, but it seems unlikely.
He has posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return
Zilisch’s first win came last year at Watkins Glen in his series debut.
This isn’t the first time this year that Zilisch was injured during a race.
Earlier this season, he missed a race at Texas Motor Speedway after sustaining a back injury during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
— with AP
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
