WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (WETM) – The NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at Watkins Glen International concluded with a frightening event.
After securing his second consecutive Xfinity Series win at WGI, the 19-year-old sensation, Connor Zilisch, experienced a tough fall while exiting his vehicle in victory lane.
The excitement from Saturday’s gripping race turned to tense silence when emergency crews quickly surrounded the champion to provide assistance. Zilisch was carefully immobilized on a backboard and first taken to the track’s medical center, and subsequently to a nearby hospital.
Zilisch posted the following statement on “X,” revealing that he suffered a broken collarbone:
“I want to thank everyone for reaching out today. I’ve been discharged from the hospital and am already on the mend. Fortunately, the CT scans of my head came back clear; I only suffered a broken collarbone. My gratitude goes out to all the medical teams for their prompt care, and I’m relieved it wasn’t more serious.”
Zilisch was also scheduled to compete in the Go Bowling at The Glen race on Sunday for Team Trackhouse, driving the number 87 Red Bull Chevrolet. However, the team has since announced that he will not be participating.
Post-race incidents aside, Zilisch earned his sixth victory of the season, battling back through a wild race to the finish.
Things remained relatively calm through the opening stages, as Justin Allgaier and Zilisch claimed the green and white checkered flags.
In the race’s last segment, tensions increased after Sheldon Creed’s crash at turn 6, which tightened the pack. Shane van Gisbergen surged ahead after the restart but collided following contact from the 88 car’s bumper, with 18 laps remaining.
On the subsequent restart, Austin Hill tapped the rear of Zilisch’s car, causing him to veer into the runoff area at turn 1, dropping him to sixth place. Shortly after, a caution flag was waved due to debris on the track.
Action would wind down to the final eight laps, seeing Cup Series driver Michael McDowell slip from the lead into second place, before Hill turned the 11 car into the turn 6 “short shoot,” causing a 16-car pileup and a red flag stoppage.
Once cars began rolling after the delay, the caution was then extended due to Nick Sanchez crashing into a tire barrier.
When the race resumed, Zilisch restarted in the lead and cruised away from the field to take the victory for the second straight year.
The Xfinity Series will take a week off before returning for the Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola in Daytona, Florida.
You can catch that race Friday, Aug. 22, at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW.
