By David Morgan, Associate Editor
TALLADEGA, Ala. – Connor Zilisch went from being in contention for the win in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Talladega on the last lap to taking an ambulance ride to the Infield Care Center following a hard hit on the backstretch.
After leading nine laps on the day, the JR Motorsports rookie, who has already won one race this season and was looking for a second, was leading the pack as they charged down the backstretch for the final time when a bump from Jesse Love sent his No. 88 Chevrolet spinning toward the inside wall, where he made heavy contact, lifting the rear of the car off the ground momentarily.
Concerns for Zilisch grew when he radioed to his team about his back, but he would be able to climb from the battered machine under his own power and walk to the ambulance to get checked out in the Infield Care Center.
He would be evaluated and released a short time later, noting he’ll be a little sore, but should be good for next weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway.
“Just one of those wrecks where you kind of tingle your toes and move your legs and make sure you’re still good,” said Zilisch. “It hurt and I’ll be sore, but very grateful to walk away.
“We’re all good, just a big hit like that, everything progresses, and you feel it. So, yeah, I’m all good. X-rays were clear, so I’m thankful. I’ll be good for Texas. I’ll probably go to the doctor and make sure everything is OK to get a final check, but I feel OK.”
The caution that came out on the final lap that made @_AustinHill the winner at Talladega 😱 pic.twitter.com/CKWrIUVjFJ
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) April 26, 2025
Jesse Love, who considers Zilisch as his best friend and vice versa, noted his concern for Zilisch’s condition in his post-race interview before heading to the Care Center to check and see how he was doing.
“It was definitely tough how that ended. I hope my friend is OK,” Love said. “I’m not going to comment on what I thought happened there. I haven’t really gotten a chance to digest it. I just want to go check on him and make sure he is alright.”
Love was a man of his word, making his way to the Care Center to see Zilisch, emerging shortly before Zilisch was released.
“He was crying in there, just wanted to make sure I was OK. He didn’t want to hurt his best friend and I wouldn’t want to do that to him,” said Zilisch. “I’m grateful to have someone like Jesse who, we race hard on the race track and we care about each other off the track.”
As for what Zilisch thought happened in the crash, he noted that he will also need some time to review it to get a clear picture of everything that transpired.
“I watched the replay once. It’s hard to tell,” Zilisch said of his perspective of the crash. “I was just trying to keep them in my mirror, right? You can’t let guys have runs like that and I probably let us get a little too clear out front. I really have to watch it to give you a clear answer, but maybe I should have just given him the run.”
UPDATE: Zilisch will sit out of the May 3 Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway after undergoing further evaluation during the week following the crash at Talladega.
JR Motorsports noted in a statement that Zilisch was taking the time out of the car to recover from a lower back injury. The team also said that Zilisch would be granted a Playoff waiver from NASCAR to remain eligible for the postseason after his win at Circuit of the Americas.
Kyle Larson will drive for Zilisch in the No. 88 Chevrolet at Texas.
Statement from JR Motorsports. pic.twitter.com/Q2oT4hqKku
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) April 30, 2025
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