Zilisch breaks collarbone after victory

Connor Zilisch, the NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader, picked up another win on Saturday but his celebrations quickly came to an unexpected end when he broke his collarbone slipping off his car.

NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch breaks collarbone celebrating victory

Zilisch won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International, but his celebration turned risky when his left foot caught on the window netting as he climbed onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet. He fell to the Victory Lane floor and was quickly attended to by trackside staff before being transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Zilisch later posted on X that he is out of the hospital and getting better, with CT scans on his head clear but a broken collarbone. He remains the series points leader with 823 points, seven ahead of Justin Allgaier, and has six wins this season.

The incident highlights the dangers athletes face in post race celebrations. Even a moment of triumph can turn into a medical emergency in seconds. It raises questions about how teams and tracks manage on car celebrations and whether tighter safeguards might be needed.

For Zilisch, the setback comes at a moment when his talent is already reshaping the Xfinity landscape. If he recovers quickly, the title narrative stays favorable, but it could push teams and organizers to reexamine post race rituals and safety protocols in the busy weeks ahead.

Highlights

The sport will watch closely to see how Zilisch bounces back and how the season unfolds.