Austin Cindric has spoken about the serious injury NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch suffered after his win at Watkins Glen in 2025. Reflecting on the incident, Cindric shared how he would have changed his own celebration to prevent a similar accident.
Connor Zilisch was forced to pause his season after breaking his collarbone while celebrating his sixth victory at Watkins Glen. After climbing onto the roof of his No. 88 car in Victory Lane, Zilisch’s left foot caught in the window netting. This caused him to lose balance and fall onto the concrete surface. Emergency responders transported him immediately to a nearby hospital. Scans ruled out head or neck injuries, but revealed a collarbone fracture that required surgery. Surgeons inserted a plate and screws to stabilize the injury.
Austin Cindric’s Reaction to the Injury and Celebration Risks
In an interview with Claire B. Lang, Austin Cindric discussed the frightening nature of Zilisch’s fall and what he would have done differently during his own celebrations. Cindric acknowledged the danger posed by the window netting, which he sometimes removes for photo reasons but realizes now can cause accidents.
“That’s a long way for a big, tall guy to fall from. So I guess the rookie mistake there was not putting the window net inside the race car. I do that because it covers up the door numbers and the pictures look bad. But yeah, it’s a scary sight, honestly. I mean, it’s kind of an upsetting thing to sit there and watch and, you know, kind of feel helpless about. I’m sure many felt the same, but I think his dad put out a tweet making fun of him, and I think that definitely calmed a lot of the nerves. Something probably very similar that my dad would have put too.”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR driver
“So I can sympathize with that as well. Yeah, just a shame, but it’s probably not going to stop me from being overly excited when I get out of the race car. But if you’re going up on top, I guess the moral of the story is there, you might as well just stand on the roof.”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR driver
Cindric’s comments highlight the balance drivers attempt to strike between excitement and safety after a win. He emphasized that while he will continue to celebrate passionately, the incident serves as a reminder to avoid precarious actions like climbing on the car’s roof in a way that could lead to serious falls.
A Look at Austin Cindric’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season
The 2025 season has been strong for Austin Cindric behind the wheel of the No. 2 Ford with Team Penske. Over 17 races, Cindric earned his first victory of the season along with four top-10 finishes, including a top-5 result. His performances show solid consistency across both oval tracks and road courses.
So far this year, Cindric has led 239 laps and has maintained an average starting position of 12.6 and finishing position of 18.53. These stats reflect his ability to compete near the front of the field while continuing to develop his racecraft and strategy.
Addressing Family Matters Amid Team Changes
Austin Cindric also commented on the recent firing of his father, Tim Cindric, from Team Penske’s <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/motorsports/indycar/”>IndyCar operations. He stated that the decision, made by Roger Penske and the organization, has not personally affected him during the NASCAR season. Since joining Team Penske in 2018, Austin noted the team’s professionalism in separating personal issues from racing performance.
Tim Cindric was dismissed in the aftermath of a major cheating scandal that rocked the Indianapolis 500. The scandal resulted in the disqualification of Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s cars due to illegal modifications found on the vehicles.
“Obviously, what happened in Indy, I’m just much of a fan and spectator, but obviously, when family is involved, right? You got to understand it from both sides,”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR driver
Despite the difficult circumstances, Austin expressed ongoing love and support for his father, emphasizing that the firing is not a controlling factor for him this season. He underlined the importance of focusing on his own racing goals amid the turbulence off the track.
Implications and What Lies Ahead
Connor Zilisch’s injury serves as a sobering reminder of how celebrations can unexpectedly turn dangerous in motorsports. Austin Cindric’s reflections underscore the need for caution while still embracing the joy of victory. As Zilisch recovers from surgery, the racing community watches closely for his return to the series.
Meanwhile, Austin Cindric continues his 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign with a determined mindset, navigating both competitive challenges and family complexities connected to Team Penske. With his strong performances so far, fans anticipate further growth from Cindric in the races ahead.