Just two weeks following a dramatic fall after winning at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch is set to compete at Daytona International Speedway. This quick return comes after he suffered a broken collarbone in the victory lane incident but was cleared medically to race again.
The Incident at Watkins Glen and Its Immediate Aftermath
During his victory celebration, Zilisch stood on his car’s roof, slipped on the window net, and fell face-first onto the pavement, knocking himself unconscious. The safety team promptly immobilized him with a neck brace and transported him by stretcher to an ambulance. He was later diagnosed with a broken collarbone but was free of other serious injuries following scans and underwent surgery shortly after the accident.
Plans for Daytona and Medical Clearance
Zilisch will participate in qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona this weekend, marking a swift return from his injury. He shared on social media,
“Cya tomorrow DAYTONA thank you to my doctors, surgeons, and everyone who has supported me through this ordeal.”
Additionally, a message confirming his medical clearance read,
“Letter has been received. Email has been sent. You are officially cleared.”
Should Zilisch find himself unable to complete the race, reserve driver Parker Kligerman will be ready to step in. While Kligerman taking over would allow Zilisch to earn points for the event, it would prevent him from accumulating playoff points for the season.
Zilisch Reflects on the Viral Nature of His Fall
The video capturing Zilisch’s fall has attracted over 100 million views, an outcome he finds frustrating. He told Bob Pockrass,
“That video has probably been viewed over 100 million times and to think that’s what is going to get a 100M views in our sport, kinda sucks.”
Zilisch expressed discomfort about the attention his accident brought to NASCAR, emphasizing the awkwardness it caused for broadcasters,
“I was just on a call with Adam Alexander and he was like, ‘It was the most awkward 2 minutes of TV I think I’ve ever had in my life.’ I hate that I did that to them.”
Despite the negative feelings, he acknowledged the silver lining,
“I got the wrong eyeballs on NASCAR but I’m glad that it wasn’t any worse. I’m glad my leg and my head are okay for the hit I took.”
He also reflected on the severity of the incident, acknowledging,
“It could have been much worse. I can laugh at it now but I will remember that race forever for probably the wrong reason.”
Current Standings and Changes Following the Incident
Despite the recent setbacks, Zilisch remains the points leader in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Following the accident, new victory lane safety protocols have been discussed to prevent similar incidents in the future. His upcoming participation at Daytona is highly anticipated as he aims to continue his strong season.