What was meant to be a moment of pure celebration for rising NASCAR star Connor Zilisch turned into a scary scene on Saturday.
The 19-year-old driver had just taken the checkered flag at the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 in Watkins Glen, New York, only to end up in the hospital minutes later with a broken collarbone.
From Victory Lane Glory to a Painful Fall
After surviving 82 intense laps against 37 other competitors, Zilisch emerged unscathed from the race itself.
But the real danger came afterwards, in the middle of his victory celebration.
As the North Carolina native tried to climb onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet — drink sponsor’s can in hand — things went wrong fast.
With one foot still caught in the driver’s side window, Zilisch slipped and tumbled hard onto the pavement.
Onlookers froze in shock as he lay motionless before medical staff rushed in.
Quick Recovery and a Message to Fans
Thankfully, the young driver didn’t suffer a head injury. “Thank you everybody for reaching out today,” Zilisch wrote on X.
“I’m out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone.
Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn’t any worse.”
An Eventful Day on the Track
Zilisch’s dramatic post-race accident wasn’t the only big moment of his day.
Earlier, on lap 65, he had collided with teammate Shane van Gisbergen while battling for the lead.
The crash dropped him to fifth place after the restart, but he fought his way back, reclaiming the lead with just five laps to go.
Crew chief Mardy Lindley praised the teenager’s resilience, telling SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, “He did such a great job of getting back through the field and getting the lead.
Praying for Connor right now that he’s OK. I think he’s going to be fine.”
A Season of Highs, Lows, and Determination
This isn’t the first injury Zilisch has faced in 2025. Earlier in the season, he sustained a back injury in a crash at Talladega.
But even with that setback, he’s managed an impressive streak — 11 consecutive top-five finishes, including five wins.
If anything, Saturday’s mishap is just another chapter in his young but already eventful career.
Given his determination, it’s likely we’ll see him back behind the wheel sooner rather than later.
