NASCAR Driver Connor Zilisch Hospitalized After Devastating Fall at Watkins Glen
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NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch took a nasty fall after winning the Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen.
As he climbed from his car, Zilisch was holding a can of Red Bull in his hand and eventually used the door to get on top of the vehicle.
With champagne spraying, the 19-year-old lost balance and ended up smacking his head on the floor and lying on the ground.
On the CW broadcast, the camera cut away from the scene of the fall, though the broadcast eventually provided additional information.
Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York.
Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 Registix Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York.
Photo byNASCAR reporter Dylan Welch confirmed Zilisch was awake and speaking.
"Connor is speaking, was speaking with medical personnel," Welch said on the broadcast.
"They were swiftly on the scene here. Both folks, right here in victory lane, and then the trackside medical group that drove the medical golf cart in.
"They are loading him on a backboard right now and are going to put him on a cart, and I believe, are taking him to the infield medical centre just for more evaluation.
"But I did get confirmation, he was speaking with the medical folks and that's the only thing we can say at this time."
Connor Zilisch falls from his car after celebrating a victory at NASCAR Xfinity Watkins Glen pic.twitter.com/TEI8JmgHbc — Franklin the Pump Dot Fun Guy (@PumpDotFunGuy) August 9, 2025
NASCAR gave an update on Zilisch's condition.
"Connor Zilisch has been transported to a local hospital for further evaluation following today's Xfinity Series race. He is awake and alert," they said.
Zilisch was eventually released from the hospital, though his status for the race on Sunday is up in the air.
Who is Connor Zilisch?
His victory was the sixth of Zilisch's impressive season, setting himself up for a cup series run at the nearest chance.
He drives for JR Motorsports, which the legendary Dale Earnhardt Jr. owns, and even won a race with Earnhardt as his crew chief.
Earlier in his motorsport career, Zilisch raced in Europe with the hopes of potentially becoming a Formula 1 driver, though he opted to get into a better race seat in America.
He left the door open to a potential F1 move, but cited a series of roadblocks that he would face.
"If it were to happen, I'd have to go over there for at least a year, two years probably to even get enough Super Licence points to qualify," Zilisch said
"I'd run F3... I'd just run a bunch of 'BS' series to get Super Licence points. Middle East F3, random things that you can do to get the points.
"That's why it would be such a big commitment. I'd want to get settled in here first and know that if I go over there for two years I could come back and still have a job."
For more NASCAR news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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