Connor Zilisch falls off car while celebrating Mission 200 win

WATKINS GLEN, New York — Connor Zilisch, the 19-year-old JR Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series driver taking the motorsport by storm, slipped and fell while celebrating his win in New York on Saturday. 

The incident happened shortly after the Mission 200 At The Glen.

After the race, Zilisch climbed out the driver window of his car to stand on the door while being sprayed with liquid in celebration. He lost his footing and slipped, landing on the ground head first. It appeared in the video that his foot may have been caught in the window net hanging off the side of the door.

He didn’t immediately get up after the fall, but was seen on camera slightly moving. 

CBS Sports reported Zilisch required medical attention and was taken out of Victory Lane on a stretcher. An NBC sports reporter on scene said he left in an ambulance, but was sitting up and talking to medical professionals. 

Sports Illustrated reported he was first evaluated in the infield care center, but was later taken to the hospital. 

The extent of his injuries aren’t clear, but NASCAR says he is “awake and alert” at the hospital.

Zilisch drives the No. 88 Chevrolet full-time for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Saturday’s win marks his fourth in the last five races and his seventh total career win. CBS Sports calls him “perhaps NASCAR’s brightest young star.”

He is also set to run a limited Cup Series schedule with Trackhouse Racing in the No. 87 Chevrolet on Sunday after qualifying 25th, but it’s unclear if he will drive. 

No other information is available at this time.