After securing a victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen on Saturday, Connor Zilisch climbed onto his car to celebrate, continuing a tradition from his previous five wins this year. Unfortunately, during the celebration, he slipped off the vehicle and fell to the ground, resulting in a broken collarbone. Aside from that injury, no other harm was reported.
NASCAR Clarifies Current Stance on Victory Lane Traditions
Following the incident, speculation emerged that NASCAR might restrict or prohibit drivers from standing atop their cars during Victory Lane celebrations. However, on the organization’s weekly podcast, Hauler Talk, Mike Forde, NASCAR’s managing director of communications, addressed these rumors by confirming there are no plans to change the existing celebratory practices.
Forde stated,
“We haven’t said that we were going to tell drivers who have won not to step out onto their window, and stand there and take photos and all that,”
emphasizing that no formal policies have been introduced to regulate what drivers do during their post-race moments. He added that NASCAR personnel present at Victory Lane work to ensure safety measures remain intact, particularly concerning the vehicle’s window nets.
Window Net Issue Plays Role in Zilisch’s Fall
The cause of Zilisch’s slip was partly linked to the window net, which was found to be unsecured and flapping on the outside of the car.
“I think that was part of the problem — the window net was flapping on the outside. I think Connor even said that may have been a problem, and one of our safety guys actually mentioned the same thing. He noticed that as being one of the issues,”
Forde explained. He urged attention to ensuring the window net is properly inside the vehicle as a preventative measure to avoid similar accidents.
Implications for Safety and Future Celebrations
While the incident was alarming, NASCAR’s commitment to allowing celebratory traditions remains firm, focusing instead on improving safety protocols around those practices. The organization’s safety teams will continue monitoring Victory Lane to reduce risks without limiting drivers’ ability to celebrate their hard-earned wins. Connor Zilisch‘s injury serves as a reminder of the inherent dangers involved but has not led to any immediate changes in policy.