How Connor Zilisch Broke His Winning Streak (and His Collarbone)

Nothing says “celebrate your victory” quite like falling off your car and breaking your collarbone, right? NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch managed to turn an epic win at the Watkins Glen International race track into an unplanned trip to the hospital. Let’s just say he took “falling for victory” a bit too literally.  

Zilisch’s Victory Dance Gone Wrong

After snagging his sixth win of the season, the 19-year-old rising star climbed atop his No. 88 Chevrolet to revel in his glory. Unfortunately, his celebration didn’t go as planned. While shimmying around on his car’s roof, Zilisch’s left foot got caught in the window netting, resulting in a stumble that sent him headfirst into Victory Lane. Yes, the same Victory Lane where he was supposed to shine was now the place where he ate asphalt.  

The aftermath wasn’t pretty. Medics rushed in, and Zilisch, looking dazed, was transported to the hospital. Luckily (and we mean luckily), scans showed no head injuries, but he was left nursing a rather inconveniently broken collarbone instead.  

Zilisch later took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to reassure his fans, thanking the medical team and noting how “thankful” he was it wasn’t worse. A broken collarbone might not feel like much to be thankful for, but hey, when you’re in motorsport, every injury-free head scan is a minor miracle.  

A Stellar Track Record With a Few Bumps (Literally)

While injuries seem to be second nature for Zilisch this season (he missed a race earlier due to a back injury after a crash at Talladega), his performance on the track has been nothing short of dazzling. Out of 11 consecutive races since his return, he’s notched five wins and hasn’t finished outside the top five once. You’d think a guy this good just floats on a perpetual cloud of victory, but nope, gravity clearly does not play favorites.

Despite his physical setbacks, the driver is laser-focused on maintaining his lead in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. With 823 points, he’s only seven points ahead of Justin Allgaier. It’s a tight competition, so one missed race could potentially shake things up. Zilisch was scheduled to drive for Trackhouse Racing’s No. 87 Chevrolet in the Cup race the following day at Watkins Glen, but the team understandably pulled the car. After all, driving at 200 mph requires both hands attached to fully functioning collarbones.