Race winner falls from roof of car and breaks collarbone

NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch broke his collarbone after a hard fall in victory lane at Watkins Glen International in New York.

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.

The 19-year-old Zilisch was taken on a backboard to the trackside medical centre 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.

Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Zilisch was back on Sunday recounting his fall.

After winning Saturday’s Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital.

“First of all, I’m doing OK,” Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the Cup race. “Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn’t walk away, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right. Thank you to all the medics who took care of me, and everybody who reached out and wished me well. I do appreciate it a lot.”

Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevrolet that Zilisch had been scheduled to drive in the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.

The scary incident capped an eventful day for Zilisch, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports team.

After starting from the pole position, Zilisch wrecked teammate Shane van Gisbergen while battling for the lead on lap 65. After being bumped from the lead to fifth on a restart, Zilisch retook first and led the final four laps.

Kiwi Van Gisbergen has better fortune on Sunday recording his fourth road win in 2025.

“He [Zilisch] 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 missed a race earlier this season at Texas Motor Speedway after sustaining a back injury during a crash at Talladega Superspeedway. He has posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.

AP

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