
Connor Zilisch Shares Injury Update After Watkins Glen Fall Left Him Hospitalized
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch has shared an injury update following a horrific fall at Watkins Glen. The 19-year-old driver fell as he climbed out of the No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate his NASCAR Xfinity Series win.
Zilisch was immediately seen my medical personnel and the on-site medical center before being transported to a local hospital for further tests including CT scans. The driver has since shared an update to social media revealing that he has broken his collarbone.
"Thank you everybody for reaching out today. I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse."
Thank you everybody for reaching out today. I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse.❤️ — Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) August 10, 2025
Zilisch was also due to race in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen later today with Trackhouse Racing, which would have been his fourth career start in the top series. The team, led by Justin Marks, has since confirmed that it has withdrawn the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet from the event.
Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August...
Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. MoreZilisch led 60 of the 82 lap race in the Xfinity Series Mission 200 at Watkins Glen and his win contributed to him leading the series' standings with 823 points, a seven point lead over Justin Allgaier in second.
2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series: Current standings
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Fox Sports
3 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Pete Alonso Becomes the New York Mets' All-Time Leader in Home Runs
Major League Baseball Pete Alonso Becomes the New York Mets' All-Time Leader in Home Runs Published Aug. 12, 2025 9:11 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso hit his 253rd career homer on Tuesday night, breaking the franchise record held by Darryl Strawberry for 37 years. The 30-year-old Alonso drove a 95.1 mph fastball from Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider just over the wall in right-center for a two-run shot in the third inning. Alonso's 27th homer of the season lifted the Mets to a 5-1 lead. The Mets celebrated the accomplishment with a scoreboard graphic with the number 253 alongside pictures of Alonso and polar bears in honor of the slugger's nickname. Alonso embraced Brandon Nimmo, who scored ahead of him, and another longtime teammate, on-deck hitter Jeff McNeil, before doffing his cap and blowing kisses to a near-sellout crowd that included New York owner Steve Cohen. Led by manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets poured out of the dugout to exchange embraces with Alonso as the crowd chanted his name. Alonso emerged for another curtain call during McNeil's at-bat. Following the inning, the Mets played the theme from "The Natural" and Alonso again doffed his cap as the camera lingered on Strawberry's No. 18 hanging above foul territory in left field at Citi Field. ADVERTISEMENT It was Alonso's fifth homer in 10 games this month — as many as he hit in 43 games from June 10 through July 30. He tied Strawberry's record by going deep against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. A homegrown star, Alonso broke into the big leagues with a bang in 2019, hitting 53 home runs to set a major league rookie record and establish a franchise high for a single season. The five-time All-Star has reached 40 two other times and been one of the most consistent sluggers in baseball since his arrival. After a protracted negotiation, he returned to the Mets as a free agent in February on a $54 million, two-year contract that includes a $24 million player option for 2026 which Alonso likely will decline. The only other active players who lead their current franchise in home runs are Manny Machado (Padres) and Mike Trout (Angels). Giancarlo Stanton, now with the New York Yankees, holds the Miami mark with 267 for the Marlins. Strawberry broke the previous Mets record with his 155th home run on May 3, 1988, passing Dave Kingman. The sweet-swinging outfielder hit 252 in 1,109 games for New York during his first eight major league seasons from 1983-90. He later played for the Dodgers, Giants and Yankees, finishing his 17-year career with 335 homers. Alonso played his 965th regular-season game Tuesday. The durable first baseman has played in 372 straight, a team record. The Diamondbacks and Padres are the lone major league teams who haven't had a player hit more than 252 homers for them. Luis Gonzalez holds the Arizona record with 224, and Machado entered Tuesday with 187 for San Diego. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! share


Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Cadillac F1 Advised to Consider NASCAR's Connor Zilisch For 2026 Seat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe has advised the Cadillac F1 team to consider NASCAR star Connor Zilisch as its driver for its debut season in 2026. Cadillac has been having discussions with several drivers, and given Zilisch's impressive racing background, he has been linked to the American outfit. Cadillac's entry into the sport was approved in March this year, and the team has been in full swing to get racing next year. However, it has yet to announce its driver lineup. The outfit has made it clear that it prefers experienced drivers, but it hasn't entirely ruled out rookie drivers who have the potential to make a significant impact on the grid. Former Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez and Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas have been strongly linked to Cadillac, and speculation suggests the team has shortlisted them for the next year. However, there has been no official confirmation. Hinchcliffe named five American drivers Cadillac should talk to, with Zilisch being one of them. The 19-year-old driver has been leading the Xfinity Series in points standings in his rookie year. He secured five race wins in the last eight rounds and is on his way to winning the championship. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet, speaks to Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #87 Red Bull Chevrolet, speaks to Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. MoreLinking him to Cadillac, Hinchcliffe revealed Zilisch's racing background and highlighted his ability to dominate different kinds of circuits. He wrote on "Zilisch had a promising road racing career going, winning in everything from Trans-Am cars to prototypes to stock cars. Without the financial freedom to simply choose the route he wanted to go, opportunities came up in stock cars before anyone in the open wheel world took notice – and that is our loss. "Competing full time in the Xfinity Championship in 2025 he already has three wins in the season, including his first oval victory. Given his road racing background it is incredibly impressive that he is now competitive on the types of track that a lot of the drivers he's racing against trained on exclusively on their rise to this level." Hinchcliffe added that if Zilisch was given a chance to compete in Formula 2, he could be race-ready for F1 in no time. However, it remains to be seen if this fits in Cadillac's plans. He wrote: "And that's really my point on Zilisch – he seems to be one of the most adaptable drivers that I've ever seen. Watching what he's done so far gives me the feeling that if he was given a proper programme in an open wheel car, and a season or two of F2 to cut his teeth, he could be F1-worthy in short order. And he has the time, because despite the impressive CV he is still only 19 years old." While Hinchcliffe does make a strong point, the chances of Zilisch securing a full-time entry in NASCAR's Cup Series next year are high.


Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
NASCAR's Connor Zilisch Faces Surgery After Infamous Xfinity Victory Fall
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Xfinity driver Connor Zilisch has revealed that his collarbone injury may require surgery for a faster recovery. Zilisch fell off his car while celebrating his race win in Victory Lane at Watkins Glen International last weekend. Falling head first, the 19-year-old driver was rushed to the medical center, where he was diagnosed with a broken collarbone. With the upcoming weekend being an off-weekend for the Xfinity Series, Zilisch will get some much-needed time to recover and resume his season, in which he maintains the lead in the points standings. Zilisch was due to race the next day for Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series, but the injury kept him out of the race. His Trackhouse teammate Shane van Gisbergen, who won the Cup race, offered injury advice to Zilisch, which is making him consider undergoing surgery. Speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Zilisch said: "I think it might be something that I might have to get surgery for. But in this case, I think surgery is something that speeds up the process, so you can get plates and screws and get it reconstructed back together. Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New... Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. More"Shane [van Gisbergen] talked about it — he had an injury in 2021 and broke his collarbone — he had plates, screws, everything done and he was racing back the next weekend. Thankfully, the collarbone is a relatively quick bone to fix and heal." Zilisch also addressed his racing return, hoping that he can soon get back behind the wheel. He said: "We're still working out with all the doctors to figure out what's gonna be the next steps. But I've got a little motivation from Shane [van Gisbergen], my teammate, he had a plate put in and raced the weekend after. So, I don't know if I'll be that quick but hopefully my young bones will heal fast, and I'll be able to get back in it as soon as possible." Newsweek Sports previously reported van Gisbergen's comments from Watkins Glen, where he spoke about his experience of recovering from a similar shoulder injury in 2021 and revealed that Zilisch will soon get back to racing with the help of good doctors. He said: "I broke my collarbone in 2021, left side, mine was a bit out by the AC. I did a bit more damage to my shoulder, and then I also had a fake ligament put in. I had a weekend off and raced the next week. Pretty much what he [Zilisch] is going to go through. Once the plate is in there, it's stronger than the bone was. I had a plate put in and then take it out at the end of the year. It is obviously going to be in pain. "My biggest problem was the tightening of the belts. I could really feel the plates through my skin, and it was a horrible feeling. I raced the next week and did pretty well. So, with some good doctors and some good dr*gs, he'll get through the race fine."