In the wake of Connor Zilisch’s broken collarbone at Watkins Glen International, NASCAR has no plans to change its Victory Lane protocols in the future. But there will be more attention paid to the location of the window net during driver celebrations.
Zilisch seemed to get his left foot caught in the window net and then took a hard fall while trying to dismount the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
“I think that was part of the problem that the window net was flapping on the outside,” NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said during the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast. “I think Connor even said that may have been a problem, and one of our safety guys actually mentioned the same thing. So, we may do just sort of a check to make sure that if that’s inside the car, it’s one less thing you can slip on.”
NASCAR has given drivers no guidance to avoid climbing onto their doorsill in Victory Lane celebrations. “We have not put in any policies or best practices or anything like that,” Forde said.
Though Zilisch’s injury made national headlines, injuries have occurred before in the frenzy of Victory Lane. Brad Keselowski needed several stitches in his right hand after breaking a champagne bottle while celebrating a 2014 victory at Kentucky Speedway. A member of Justin Allgaier’s team suffered a similar wound in Phoenix Raceway’s Victory Lane after the 2024 Xfinity championship.
Zilisch underwent surgery Tuesday on his broken collarbone, and his status is uncertain for the Xfinity Series’ Aug. 22 race at Daytona International Speedway. The points leader already secured a playoff waiver for missing the May 2 race at Texas Motor Speedway with a back injury sustained in a crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
Forde confirmed that Zilisch would need to request another waiver to remain championship-eligible if he missed Daytona or subsequent races.
“He has to miss a race first, so we’re probably a good two weeks away from even receiving a waiver request from Connor,” Forde said. “We’ll get with the doctors and find out where he is.”
Zilisch also would need to be medically cleared before returning. Forde said if Zilisch were approved to race by a doctor but wanted to sit out races to continue healing before the playoffs, NASCAR might allow it. While recovering from a concussion in 2022, Alex Bowman missed a race at Martinsville Speedway just after being cleared.
“We would consider it,” Forde said. “It’s a case-by-case basis.”
With the Craftsman Truck Series regular-season finale Friday at Richmond Raceway, NASCAR was awaiting an expected waiver request from injured driver Stewart Friesen, who missed last week’s race at Watkins Glen and could be out the rest of the season. Forde said NASCAR planned to make a decision on Friesen’s status before the truck garage opened Friday morning at Richmond.
If Friesen were granted a waiver, there would be one spot left in the 10-driver field, and Kaden Honeycutt would likely clinch by starting Friday’s race. But if Friesen were excluded from the playoffs, a second spot would be available with multiple drivers in the hunt.
“The goal is to make sure that fans, our broadcast partners at FOX and all the media and everyone knows really what’s on the line Friday night, whether there is one spot available or two,” Forde said. “I think fans will know by Friday morning at the latest.”
Other topics covered by Forde and Ellis during the 27th episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
— NASCAR will consider making course adjustments at Watkins Glen to establish track limits.
— Why Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch faced no penalties for hooking other drivers in wrecks.
— Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Chevrolet being inspected after setting the fastest lap.
— Upcoming drivers meetings at Richmond Raceway.
Click on the embed above to listen or search for “Hauler Talk” wherever you download podcasts to hear it on your phone, tablet or mobile device.
Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the “Hauler Talk” show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He has also covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.
Read the full article here
