Zilisch 'grateful to be walking' after nasty fall at Watkins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) — Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Connor Zilisch was back Sunday at Watkins Glen International and recounting his scary fall in victory lane.

After winning Saturday's Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a celebratory perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive in the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.

"First of all, I'm doing OK," Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the Cup race. "Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn't walk away, but I'm very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right. Thank you to all the medics who took care of me, and everybody who reached out and wished me well. I do appreciate it a lot."

After his series-high sixth victory, Zilisch realized he was in trouble immediately after the chaos began in victory lane, which typically is a frenzied scene of winning team members cheering and tossing beverages as their driver exits the car.

"Yeah, I was climbing out of the car, and obviously the window net was on the door, and as soon as they started spraying water, my foot slipped," he said. "And the last thing I remember was being halfway down and falling, so I'm glad it wasn't any worse, and that the collarbone is the extent of the injuries, but hate I couldn't make it to the race today."

The question now turns to whether Zilisch will be ready in time to race in the next Xfinity race Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway.

"We're still working out with all the doctors to figure out what's going to be the next steps," Zilisch said.

He's already shown to be a quick healer this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.