WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Sporting a smile together with his left elbow in a black sling draped round his neck, Connor Zilisch was again Sunday at Watkins Glen Worldwide and recounting his scary fall in victory lane.
After successful Saturday’s Xfinity race on the highway course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble whereas trying a celebratory perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and recognized with a damaged collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive within the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.
“To begin with, I am doing OK,” Zilisch mentioned throughout the USA broadcast of the Cup race. “Very grateful to have the ability to stroll away from that, and I suppose I did not stroll away, however I am very grateful to be strolling immediately and to only be all proper. Thanks to all of the medics who took care of me, and all people who reached out and wished me effectively. I do recognize it loads.”
After his series-high sixth victory, Zilisch realized he was in bother instantly after the chaos started in victory lane, which generally is a frenzied scene of successful crew members cheering and tossing drinks as their driver exits the automotive.
“Yeah, I used to be climbing out of the automotive and clearly the window web was on the door, and as quickly as they began spraying water, my foot slipped,” he mentioned. “And the very last thing I keep in mind was being midway down and falling, so I am glad it wasn’t any worse, and that the collarbone is the extent of the accidents, however hate I could not make it to the race immediately.”
The query now turns as to whether Zilisch can be prepared in time to race within the subsequent Xfinity race on Aug. 22 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
“We’re nonetheless figuring out with all of the docs to determine what is going on to be the subsequent steps,” Zilisch mentioned.
He already has proven to be a fast healer this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway due to a again harm from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and 5 wins since his return.
He famous that Trackhouse teammate Shane van Gisbergen “had a spot put in as soon as and raced the weekend after. So I do not know if I will be that fast, however hopefully my younger bones will heal quick, and I will be capable of get again in it as quickly as doable.”