Connor Zilisch Breaks Collarbone in Victory Lane Fall at Watkins Glen

NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch sustained a broken collarbone after a fall during post-race celebrations at Watkins Glen International.

The 19-year-old had just secured his sixth win of the season when the incident occurred. While climbing onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet in Victory Lane, Zilisch’s left foot appeared to snag in the driver’s side window net, causing him to lose balance and land heavily on the asphalt.

Track personnel placed Zilisch on a backboard and transported him to the trackside medical facility before he was taken to a hospital for additional testing. Roughly two hours later, he announced on X that scans had revealed a broken collarbone but no head injury.

“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 prevent Zilisch from competing in Sunday’s Cup Series event at Watkins Glen. He had planned to complete a three-race weekend following starts in the Truck and Xfinity Series, with Sunday’s race marking his fourth Cup appearance of the season for Trackhouse Racing.

Earlier in the day, Zilisch’s run was anything but straightforward. Driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports, he began from pole position but made contact with teammate Shane van Gisbergen’s car on Lap 65 while battling for the lead. A later restart dropped him from first to fifth, but he regained the lead and maintained it over 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 previously sat out a race earlier this year at Texas Motor Speedway due to a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Since returning, he has recorded 11 straight top-five finishes, including five victories.