Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch, one of NASCAR’s top rising stars, will miss Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway due to lower back injuries from a hard crash during last week’s race.
The 18-year-old was leading on the final lap at Talladega Superspeedway when contact from Jesse Love turned Zilisch, causing him to spin and crash into the inside retaining wall. Zilisch impacted the wall so forcefully that all four wheels lifted off the ground.
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Once his car stopped, Zilisch told his JR Motorsports team over the radio that he was in pain and his back hurt. He was able to get out of the car on his own without assistance and was taken to Talladega’s infield care, where he was “evaluated and released,” though he was observed walking gingerly.
“I’m all good, thankfully,” Zilisch said after leaving the care center. “This is one of those wrecks where you just kind of tingle your toes and move your legs and make sure you’re still good. It hurt, and I’ll be sore, but very grateful to walk away.”
When asked about his back by The Athletic, Zilisch said: “X-rays were all good. Just a big hit like that, everything compresses and you feel it. So, yeah, I’m all good.”
He went on to say he would be good to race at Texas but likely would visit a doctor mid-week “to make sure everything’s OK and get a final check.”
The extent of Zilisch’s injuries was not disclosed Wednesday, nor was the timeline for his return. The Xfinity Series is off for the next two weeks, with its next race not until May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
With Zilisch sidelined, JRM named Kyle Larson to drive its No. 88 Chevrolet at Texas. Larson drives in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports, which has a tight affiliation with JRM, co-owned by former Hendrick driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Zilisch is in his first full season in NASCAR’s second-tier series, where he is the leading Rookie of the Year contender. He has one win and three top-10 finishes in 11 races and ranks fourth in laps led.
(Photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
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