Winner Connor Zilisch leaves on a stretcher in scary Victory Lane fall

19-year-old Connor Zilisch was eager to celebrate another sensational victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The rising star earned his sixth win of the year at Watkins Glen in a dramatic finish.

Zilisch was climbing from the car in Victory Lane to celebrate the big win, but shockingly, he slipped and fell off the car. Zilisch, who had taken his helmet off at that point, hit the ground and The CW broadcast abruptly cut to commercial. When they returned, Zilisch was being carried away on a stretcher, and the car was being pushed out of Victory Lane.

Zilisch was speaking with medical workers after the incident, according to The CW. He was then loaded into an ambulance and taken to the infield care center for further evaluation. Zilisch was then transported to a local hospital, but he remains awake and alert.

Race recap

As for the race itself, Zilisch started from pole position, but the first caution flew just five laps into the race. Ryan Sieg lost control entering Turn 6, colliding with Josh Bilicki and causing both cars to spin. Bilicki became stuck in the gravel, forcing a yellow flag.

A similar incident took place later in the stage with Thomas Annunziata and Anthony Alfredo, but both kept their cars on the pavement, avoiding another yellow.

Zilisch and SVG were among those who pitted before the end of the stage in favor of gaining track position. This cleared the way for Justin Allgaier to claim the stage win over Taylor Gray.

At the start of the second stage, Zilisch cycled back to the lead while SVG fell back to fifth. The action was picking up throughout the pack, and Annunziata found trouble again as he backed it into the wall at Turn 7.

Zilisch went on to win the second stage with van Gisbergen second.

Stage 3

As the final stage got underway, everyone was focused on when the pit window opened for the final time. SVG chose to pit first before Zilisch, diving into the pits with 31 laps to go.

In some good fortune for SVG, a crash involving Sheldon Creed caused a yellow flag and allowed him to get ahead of Zilisch.

On the restart that followed, SVG was third and Zilisch restarted ninth. SVG quickly took over the lead as Zilisch sliced through the field. It wasn’t long until the two teammates were locked in a tense battle for the win.

But with 18 laps to go, Zilisch got into SVG as he tried to get back onto the racing surface, sending the No. 9 hard into the outside wall.

The race got very wild after that, as Austin Hill muscled his way into the lead on the restart. Zilisch eventually reclaimed the lead, but the biggest incident of the race was about to take place as Hill got into Michael McDowell as they battled for second.

McDowell crashed heavily, and over a dozen cars were involved in the ensuing chaos. The race was red flagged as the track was blocked and the guardrail was damaged.

When things got back underway, Zilisch managed to fend off both Sam Mayer and Sammy Smith for the race win.