WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch’s celebration turned painful on Saturday after a freak accident in Victory Lane left him with a broken collarbone.
The 19-year-old rising star had just claimed his series-leading sixth win of the season at Watkins Glen International when the mishap occurred. As he climbed onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate, Zilisch’s left foot appeared to snag in the driver’s side window netting. He slipped and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt, landing hard.
Track medics quickly responded, placing Zilisch on a backboard and transporting him to the infield medical center before sending him to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Hours later, Zilisch posted on social media that CT scans showed no head injury but confirmed the collarbone break.
“Thank you everybody for reaching out today,” Zilisch wrote. “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 injury will sideline Zilisch from Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, where he was set to make his fourth Cup start of the season for Trackhouse Racing. The accident cut short what would have been an ambitious tripleheader weekend for the young driver, following starts in both the Truck and Xfinity Series.
Saturday’s Xfinity race had already been dramatic for Zilisch. Starting from pole position, he tangled with JR Motorsports teammate Shane van Gisbergen while battling for the lead on Lap 65, damaging van Gisbergen’s car. After losing the top spot on a late restart, Zilisch charged back, reclaiming the lead and holding it for 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. “Praying for Connor right now that he’s OK. I think he’s going to be fine.”
Zilisch has been on a remarkable run since returning from a back injury sustained at Talladega Superspeedway earlier this season, missing only the Texas race. Since then, he has racked up 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins, cementing his status as one of the brightest young talents in the series.
For now, his focus shifts from the racetrack to recovery. The NASCAR world will be watching closely to see how quickly the young phenom can get back behind the wheel.
