NASCAR provides injury update on Connor Zilisch | Sports News

Almost two weeks faraway from Connor Zilisch’s scary victory lane accident at Watkins Glen within the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which noticed him fall from the roof of his car and endure a damaged collarbone and compelled him to overlook a Cup Series begin, it stays to be seen whether or not or not the Formula 1 hopeful can be cleared to race at Daytona.

The Xfinity Series, which is led by Zilisch within the No. 87 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, is set to return after a week off at Daytona within the Wawa 250. While the Trackhouse Racing development and part-time driver has been included on the entry record, in response to NASCAR’s communications director, Mike Forde, the teenager has but to be cleared to return by his physician.

“I believe this week some time he has a follow-up appointment with his ortho, and once he has that, let’s hope that he’s good to go, and his doctor gives him the clearance,” Forde defined on the ‘Hauler Talk’ podcast. “Once that happens, his doctor will talk to our medical team and if his doctor gives clearance then we will clear him to return to all racing activities.”

If Zilisch, who required surgical procedure after his unlucky incident, receives clearance, he wouldn’t be restricted upon his return. Forde additionally defined that ought to JRM decide to restrict Zilisch’s working at Daytona, probably involving him beginning the race earlier than being changed by a substitute, this is able to nonetheless permit him to acquire useful regular-season factors.

However, ought to a driver change be pulled off, Zilisch wouldn’t be in line to obtain any playoff factors. “So, if his replacement driver wins a stage, any of the two stages, he won’t get that one Playoff point that usually goes with winning a stage,” Forde stated. “And if that replacement driver wins the race, he doesn’t get the extra five Playoff points.”

That being stated, ought to Zilisch’s hypothetical alternative win the race, he would nonetheless obtain credit for the victory.

As defined by Trackhouse’s Shane van Gisbergen, racing with a plate on a damaged collarbone is manageable, though uncomfortable. 

As such, assuming Zilisch is cleared to return, JRM’s present plan is to permit him to compete, as per NASCAR.com. But it seems this might not be the ultimate determination, with Trackhouse’s proprietor, Justin Marks, eager to keep away from making any hasty selections.

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“It’s a balance,” he advised SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, by way of On3. “It’s a balance between a 19-year-old kid who just wants to be in the race car and can’t stand not being in the race car and is capable of driving the race car right now. 

“And the other side of that is we need to make a smart decision. What we can’t do is rush him back into the car, especially a place like Daytona, get in a wreck and then be worse off than we were before.

“So, it’s kind of a day-by-day deal right now. This will be a big week to see how his rehab goes and his comfort level and all that stuff. And it could end up being a game-time decision. I know that we all want him back in the race car. He wants to be back in the race car. JRM wants him to be back in the race car. But we’ve got to make smart decisions, so I would just say, stay tuned on that one.”