Shane van Gisbergen, who has firsthand experience with a broken collarbone, expressed optimism about Connor Zilisch’s chances of competing at Daytona after his injury. Van Gisbergen suffered a collarbone fracture in a mountain bike accident in 2021 but returned to racing within two weeks, a timeframe he suggests is achievable for Zilisch. The incident with Zilisch occurred after he fell from his car celebrating at Watkins Glen International, sustaining a broken collarbone.
After learning about Zilisch’s injury, van Gisbergen reached out to offer encouragement, highlighting similarities between their recoveries. He emphasized that with a week off prior to the Daytona race at Daytona International Speedway, Zilisch has a realistic chance to get back behind the wheel.
Experience Shows Collarbone Injuries Can Heal Quickly
Van Gisbergen described his own injury as more severe, involving not only a broken collarbone but also an AC joint injury and three broken ribs. Despite this, he was able to compete the following week. He explained that the collarbone is
“probably the best major bone you can break”
since once it is surgically fixed with a plate and bolts, it can become even stronger than before.
“My injury was probably worse than his. I did like my AC [joint] and three ribs as well on a mountain bike accident and then I had one week off and raced the next week, which is exactly what he’s got. He’s got Richmond off and then Daytona, so he should be fine,”
van Gisbergen said on the Dale Jr. Download.
He also noted that the most challenging part for drivers with injuries like this is discomfort caused by seat belts pressing on the collarbone’s surgical hardware.
“But yeah, he could — if it’s just the collarbone — he could race at Daytona or even this weekend. … I did that, broke my collarbone and raced the next race. I raced for three or four months and when we had a break, I took the plate out again and it was brand new. He can be fine. That was horrible to see. Initially, I thought he had done his knee or his ankle. Luckily, collarbone is a relatively OK bone to break.”
Zilisch’s Surgery and Recovery Plan Ahead of Daytona
Connor Zilisch underwent surgery to repair his broken collarbone on the Tuesday following his accident. Fortunately, he has a full week off before the race at Daytona International Speedway. This recovery period provides crucial time for healing after the surgical intervention.
Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks indicated that the decision on when Zilisch returns to racing will be made collectively, considering medical advice and the driver’s condition. Zilisch remains focused on returning to competition as soon as possible.
Zilisch Leading Xfinity Series Despite Injury
The 19-year-old driver currently leads the Xfinity Series points standings, holding a seven-point advantage over teammate Justin Allgaier. His victory at Watkins Glen marked his sixth of the season and solidified his position atop the leaderboard for the regular season championship.
This strong performance adds pressure and motivation for both Zilisch and the team to manage his collarbone injury recovery effectively so he can continue competing for the championship.
Implications of Zilisch’s Potential Return to Daytona
If Zilisch recovers quickly enough to race at Daytona, it would demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination, echoing van Gisbergen’s own rapid comeback from a similar injury. This situation also underscores advances in sports medicine and surgical techniques that enable drivers to return from significant injuries faster than in the past.
For Trackhouse Racing and JR Motorsports, having their points leader back on track would maintain momentum in a tightly contested season. Fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see if Zilisch can translate his recovery into continued success on the track.