NASCAR Driver Connor Zilisch Suffers Broken Collarbone Celebrating Watkins Glen Win

In August 2025, NASCAR rising star Connor Zilisch suffered a serious injury after celebrating his sixth Xfinity Series win of the season at Watkins Glen International. While climbing atop his #88 Chevrolet during the victory celebration, Zilisch slipped, fell headfirst onto the pavement, and was rendered motionless, requiring immediate medical attention and transport to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a broken collarbone but cleared of head injuries. Despite the dramatic incident, Zilisch reassured fans he was recovering and later humorously referenced the accident on social media. The mishap overshadowed an already eventful race, which included an earlier collision between Zilisch and teammate Shane van Gisbergen that ended van Gisbergen's race abruptly. Zilisch's injury forced him to miss a subsequent Cup Series race, but his strong season performance still positioned him well in the playoff standings. The incident drew widespread media attention and highlighted the risks athletes face even in moments of celebration.