WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Connor Zilisch is unsure when he will be back in a car after breaking his left collarbone in a fall in victory lane Saturday, but he's trying to keep a lighthearted attitude about the incident.
"I've definitely called myself a dummy more than once already," Zilisch told NBC Sports during Sunday's Cup race at Watkins Glen. "If it was any worse, I probably wouldn't be joking, but, you know, I take these things very light hearted. It's a very serious matter, but I just try to stay positive through it all.
"I can't do anything about it at this point but focus on my recovery moving forward. It helps to have people who are willing to joke with me. I'm definitely not afraid of the jokes.
"I'm grateful ... that it wasn't any worse and I can move on from this and I'm here walking around today."
Zillisch broke his collarbone when he fell from his car in victory lane after winning Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen. He was scheduled to have made his fourth Cup start today.
"I remember, I got up on the car and I put my leg on the window net on the door and as soon as they started spraying water, it just kind of started to slide and I lost my footing," Zilisch told NBC Sports. "I remember my legs split the door, I had one outside the door, one in the door and that's when I started to tumble. The last thing I remember was thinking I was going to break my leg.
"I'm very grateful the doctors and medics were there right away to take care of me. I was probably not in the best headspace at that time. They did a great job with everything they did. Grateful that it wasn't any worse."
Zilisch was taken on a backboard with a neck brace to an ambulance and transported to the infield care center. He was then taken to a local hospital. JR Motorsports stated at 9:16 p.m. ET Saturday night Zilisch had been released from the hospital. Zilisch stated Saturday night that CT scans showed no head injury.
Zilisch has won six Xfinity races this season and is the points leader. The series is off next weekend before returning Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway.
Zilisch missed a race earlier this season after suffering a lower back injury in a crash April 26 at Talladega. He skipped the May 3 race at Texas Motor Speedway.