Grateful that it wasn’t worse than it was.
NASCAR Xfinity Collection driver Connor Zilisch suffered a scary second after profitable the race at Watkins Glen this afternoon when he fell off his automotive whereas celebrating the win in Victory Lane.
The 19-year previous rookie phenom had simply received his sixth race of the season, and the seventh of his profession, after getting his first win a 12 months in the past throughout his Xfinity Collection debut – which mockingly, was at Watkins Glen.
It seems that after dropping his footing, Zilisch appeared to get his foot caught in his window on the best way down. Medical crews rapidly rushed in to help Zilisch, who was loaded onto a backboard earlier than being taken out of victory lane in an ambulance to the infield care heart.
Fortunately, it was reported that Zilisch was sitting up within the ambulance.
Â
Earlier than signing off, the CW offered an replace and confirmed that Zilisch was talking to medical personnel in victory lane.
And after being evaluated on the infield care heart, Zilisch left the speedway in an ambulance.
JR Motorsports additionally offered an replace on their driver, saying that he was awake and alert and being transferred to an area hospital:
And Connor’s father, Jim Zilisch, additionally offered an replace, saying that his son is “again to himself” and “not in any hazard,” however was being taken to the hospital for additional analysis.
Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like Connor needed to keep on the hospital very lengthy.
The most recent replace got here from the driving force himself, who introduced that had suffered a damaged collarbone however that his CT scans had been clear and that he was being launched from the hospital:
“Thanks all people for reaching out at present. I’m out of the hospital and getting higher already. Fortunately, CT scans for my head are clear, I simply have a damaged collarbone. Grateful for all of the medics for fast consideration and grateful it wasn’t any worse.”
Sadly, the incident implies that Zilisch will probably be pressured to overlook tomorrow’s NASCAR Cup Collection race.
Connor was scheduled to compete within the #87 automotive for Trackhouse Racing, one in all a handful of begins this season earlier than it’s anticipated that he joins the staff full time within the #99 automotive in 2026, changing the departing Daniel Suarez.
Zilisch had certified twenty fifth for the race, however Trackhouse introduced this night that it had withdrawn their entry for the #87 automotive. The staff runs solely a part-time schedule, and since they’re not competing for factors, I suppose they didn’t see any motive to herald a backup driver for the race.
JR Motorsports hasn’t introduced how a lot time, if any, Zilisch will probably be pressured to overlook within the Xfinity Collection. However as a result of he’s already locked into the playoffs, it looks as if a no brainer to maintain him out of the automotive subsequent week at Daytona, which is the ultimate race earlier than the playoffs begin in two weeks.
Simply grateful that it wasn’t worse than it was, and hoping that we get to see Connor again within the automotive sooner fairly than later.
