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TV channel cuts broadcast after sickening incident during celebration

The father of NASCAR’s brightest young star has delivered a shocking update on his son after his sickening celebration KO.

Horror fall ends NASCAR prodigy's celebrations

The world of NASCAR has been left stunned after the sport’s brightest young star knocked himself out while celebrating his sixth win of the 2025 Xfinity Series season.

The broadcaster of the event, The CW Network, had to immediately cut the broadcast and go to an ad break due to the sickening scene of Connor Zilisch lying motionless on the ground.

The incident occurred after the 19-year-old superstar climbed on top of his car, before raising his arms in triumph as the crowd cheered for him.

However he soon lost balance and with his leg seemingly stuck inside the window of the car, he landed hard on his face onto the concrete pavement.

You can watch the incident in the video player above

Connor Zilisch was all smiles after climbing to the top of his car to celebrate.
Connor Zilisch was all smiles after climbing to the top of his car to celebrate.
Zilisch found himself in a horrendous position as he lost his balance.
Zilisch found himself in a horrendous position as he lost his balance.

Zilisch lay motionless after the fall, prompting swift medical attention before he was taken out of Victory Lane on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to hospital.

The driver took to social media hours after the horror incident, thanking everybody for their well wishes while providing an update on his injuries.

“First of all, thank you to everybody who reached out today, and thank you to the medics for taking great care of me all evening long,” Zilich wrote on Instagram.

“I went for a tumble while getting out of the car in victory lane.

“Thankfully, the CT scans of my head are clear, and my only injury is a broken collarbone.

“Proud of my JR Motorsport team on getting our 6th win of the year, hate I couldn’t celebrate with them!”

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Connor Zilisch has a broken collarbone after the scary incident. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, file)
Connor Zilisch has a broken collarbone after the scary incident. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, file)

Trackhouse Racing, partners of JR Motorsports in NASCAR, announced that they would be withdrawing Zilich’s No.87 Red Bull Chevrolet from Monday’s (AEST) NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen as a result.

A statement read: “Trackhouse Racing has elected to withdraw the No.87 Red Bull Chevrolet from tomorrow’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International.

“We wish Connor a speedy recovery”.

Zilisch’s father Jim provided the most brutal update of the day, after initially delivering a serious report to his Facebook followers that read: “Conor is conscious and back to himself and in the infield care center.

“Off to hospital for further evaluation but is not in any danger.

“Will update more later this evening.”

Fans breathed a sigh of relief reading that update, however were soon left stunned when Jim Zilich returned to social media hours later after his son got the all clear in hospital.

“Silver lining. Pooping himself is no longer his most embarrassing moment,” Jim’s X post read.

The post quickly went viral on X with more than half a million views and hundreds of replies.

“This might be the greatest tweet of all time,” the BYRD racing account wrote.

While racing fan account NASCARRachel wrote: “Bro, he’s the one that eventually picks your nursing home.”

Zilisch in earlier incident

The day at Watkins Glen racetrack in New York had already been fraught with drama for Zilisch, largely due to an incident involving a huge name in Australian motorsport, Shane van Gisbergen.

In an incident that had fans buzzing earlier in the race, the two JR Motorsports stablemates clashed while battling for the lead.

Connor Zilisch brutally takes out Shane van Gisbergen

In the closing stages of the Xfinity Series race, Zilisch overdrove the turn and made contact with van Gisbergen, sending the three-time Supercars champion hard into the wall.

Van Gisbergen’s Number 9 Chevrolet was ruined after the collision at the final corner.

A clearly frustrated van Gisbergen later stated he was “pretty gutted really” and called it a “pretty average way to end it”.

Despite starting strong, initially holding second behind Zilisch, van Gisbergen’s race was immediately over after Zilisch’s aggressive act.

Van Gisbergen will now turn his attention to the Cup Series race, aiming for his fourth win of the season.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/motorsport/tv-channel-cuts-broadcast-after-sickening-incident-during-celebration/news-story/2cf416aef4c04227cf38229e6afb38d2