Just days after securing his sixth victory of the season, the 19-year-old prodigy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. underwent surgery for a broken collarbone. Now, with fans rallying behind him, Zilisch opens up about the mental toll, and shares a message of resilience that’s striking a chord across the racing world.

Leading the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series standings with 823 points in his No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, the young gun has become Dale Jr.’s brightest prospect. However, after a dominant win at Watkins Glen, Zilisch’s season took a dramatic turn.

While celebrating atop his car, he slipped and crashed hard onto the pavement, breaking his collarbone- a moment, caught on camera that stunned everyone. Now, with an off-week ahead, fans are anxiously waiting to see if Zilisch will return to the Xfinity grid, or make his next move in the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing. And in recent X post, he’s hinted that a comeback might not be far off.

“Been tough days for me mentally,” says Dale Jr.’s prodigy

Connor Zilisch provided an update on his condition via X on August 12, following his injury at Watkins Glen. “Wanted to give everyone a quick update. Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped. Thank you,” he posted.

Wanted to give everyone a quick update. Had surgery on my collarbone this morning to get a plate and screws to help with the healing process. Been a tough few days for me mentally, but all the love you guys have shown has certainly helped. Thank you❤️

— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) August 12, 2025

Zilisch’s confession about the mental toll underscores a critical aspect for NASCAR drivers. His message also highlights how fan support aids recovery, a value add-on for aspiring racers facing similar setbacks.

Earlier, discussing recovery options on the ‘Door Bumper Clear’ podcast before his surgery, Zilisch said, “I think it might be something that I might have to get surgery for. But in this case, I think surgery is something that speeds up the process, so you can get plates and screws and get it reconstructed back together.” Rather than waiting it out, he sees surgery as a way to accelerate healing and get back behind the wheel sooner.

While Zilisch focuses on healing, questions linger about his racing timeline. Let’s explore what Trackhouse Racing has said about his potential return to Cup Series.

Trackhouse opens up on Zilisch’s chances of racing return

With an Xfinity off-week coming up, Zilisch will have valuable time to heal, but whether he’ll be ready to race the very next weekend is still up in the air. Now, when it comes to Cup series, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks emphasized the decision isn’t simple: it requires conversations with team doctors, sponsors, and the driver, and it must put Zilisch’s medical care and mental readiness first so he can come back stronger.

Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks addressed Zilisch’s situation, stressing a collaborative decision-making process. “I think it’s a discussion that we all have to have. We haven’t really talked about much, obviously, since yesterday, but in the little bit that we’ve discussed in some of the quiet moments over the last 24 hours, it’s going to have to be a group decision. It’s going to have to be sponsors, Chevrolet, the team, taking care of his development, taking care of him as a human and as an athlete, and then keeping his motivations high and making sure he knows he’s got a group of people behind him that are supportive of him,” Marks stated.

Zilisch, signed as a development driver for Trackhouse since 2024, was set to make his fourth Cup Series start in the No. 87 car at Watkins Glen but withdrew due to the injury. Marks highlighted the team’s commitment to Zilisch’s growth, noting his full-time Xfinity role with JR Motorsports while preparing for a 2026 Cup promotion. The off-weekend for Xfinity after Watkins Glen provides recovery time before the Wawa 250 at Daytona on August 22.