Connor Zilisch reveals likelihood he leaves car at Daytona, lets Parker Kligerman take over

On Friday, Connor Zilisch has a big decision to make after the green flag drops for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona. With a newly implanted plate on his collarbone, Zilisch is already cleared to compete. But it isn’t likely that he will finish the race.

Parker Kligerman is on standby to be the relief driver for Zilisch. It appears that the plan will be for Zilisch to start the race and then hop out as soon as he can. If he starts the race, he will receive the points that Kligerman earns with his finish in the end.

Zilisch is in the middle of a regular-season championship battle. He also has his future to care for. As a promising young driver, he’s going to more than likely play it safe.

“It sucks getting out, but I’m young and I know that as long as I start the race and run one timed lap, I get whatever points, whoever finishes the race,” Zilisch said, via Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports. “So, you’re not losing that much doing that here. You’re not going to go a lap down changing drivers – the track’s long enough under caution. So, looking at it now, I’m most likely going to pull out of line until the race starts and ride around until the caution comes out, and then, um, do whatever needs to happen.

“But say I wake up tomorrow and I’m feeling really good, then who knows? But that’s very probably unlikely, and the risk isn’t worth fighting for. And I don’t want to see what the risk is, either.”

Zilisch was included on the entry list at the start of the week. Today, he revealed that he was “officially officially cleared” to race. But it appears that he won’t be finishing the race himself.

After his injury at Talladega, you can’t blame him. Risking a reinjury of his collarbone after having a plate and screws put in via surgery would be dangerous and, frankly, ill-advised.

At 19, there is nothing that Zilisch has to prove. He is a tough driver and has taken big hits already early in his career. Thankfully, the cars have modern safety standards…unless you stand on the door, that is.

Jokes aside, this is probably for the best. Connor Zilisch will get the points, and Parker Kligerman gets to race a JR Motorsports Chevy. The NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season championship is up for grabs these next few weeks. Zilisch wants to get those bonus points.

With only three races left in the regular season, Zilisch has to protect his slim points lead. Justin Allgaier is only 7 points behind his rookie teammate. Is that a good omen for Allgaier in these final few weeks?