{"id":57100,"date":"2025-08-10T06:48:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-10T06:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/57100\/"},"modified":"2025-08-10T06:48:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T06:48:10","slug":"nascar-drivers-victory-celebration-goes-horribly-wrong-as-budding-star-19-is-rushed-to-the-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/57100\/","title":{"rendered":"NASCAR driver’s victory celebration goes horribly wrong as budding star, 19, is rushed to the hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALEX RASKIN, US SPORT NEWS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 22:38 EDT, 9 August 2025 | Updated: 00:35 EDT, 10 August 2025 <\/p>\n

NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch has been released from the hospital after breaking his collarbone in a post-race victory celebration gone horribly wrong.<\/p>\n

The promising 19-year-old driver won the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200 in Watkins Glen, New York on Saturday, surviving 82 laps against 37 other cars without injuring himself.<\/p>\n

Things turned far more dangerous for Zilisch in victory lane afterwards as the North Carolina<\/a> native struggled to extract himself from his No. 88 Chevrolet.<\/p>\n

As he attempted to hoist himself onto the roof of the car while holding a drink sponsor’s can, Zilisch slipped. Although he nearly caught himself, Zilisch’s foot was still stuck inside his driver’s side window, preventing a clean escape.<\/p>\n

Instead, Zilisch came crashing down to the pavement, where he lay motionless as horrified onlookers slowly moved in to check on him.<\/p>\n

‘Thank you everybody for reaching out today,’ Zilisch has since written on X. ‘I’m out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn’t any worse.’<\/p>\n

\"As <\/p>\n

As he attempted to hoist himself onto the roof of the car while holding a drink sponsor’s can, Zilisch slipped with his foot stuck inside his driver’s side window, preventing a clean escape<\/p>\n

\"After <\/p>\n

After winning the Mission 200 Connor Zilisch (#88 JR Motorsports Registix Chevrolet) falls from his Registix Chevrolet and hits his head on landing in Victory lane At The Glen<\/p>\n

\"Connor <\/p>\n

Connor Zilisch (pictured) suffered a broken collarbone as a result of his spill Saturday\u00a0<\/p>\n

The freak injury capped an already eventful day for one of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s young drivers with he JR Motorsports team.<\/p>\n

On lap 65, Zilisch wrecked teammate Shane van Gisbergen while vying for the lead.<\/p>\n

He was dropped to fifth on the restart, but managed to retake the lead with five laps remaining.<\/p>\n

‘He did such a great job of getting back through the field and getting the lead,’ crew chief Mardy Lindley told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. ‘Praying for Connor right now that he\u00b4s OK. I think he\u00b4s going to be fine.’<\/p>\n

Zilisch has battled other injuries this season, including a back problem he sustained during a crash at Talladega.<\/p>\n

Since then, however, Zilisch has 11 straight to-five finish, including five victories.<\/p>\n

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