NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch’s latest win at Watkins Glen International took an unexpected turn when a post-race celebration ended in injury.
The 19-year-old rising star had just secured his sixth victory of the season in his No. 88 Chevrolet and climbed onto the roof to mark the moment. But as he moved to reposition himself, his foot became caught in the car’s window netting, sending him tumbling onto Victory Lane.
Witnesses rushed to his side as Zilisch lay momentarily still. He was quickly transported from the trackside medical center to a local hospital for evaluation. Later that evening, he assured fans in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that his head scans were clear and the only injury was a broken collarbone.
“Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn’t any worse,” Zilisch wrote, noting he’s already on the mend.
Despite the mishap, Zilisch maintains his lead in the Xfinity Series standings with 823 points—just seven ahead of Justin Allgaier. With six wins this season, his competitive edge remains strong, even if his celebrations might be a little more cautious moving forward.
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