With Connor Zilisch breaking his collarbone, the question immediately turns to when he will return to the driver's seat. The answer is not particularly simple considering the size of the group that has to get involved.
As team owner Justin Marks explained, this discussion will involve doctors, teams, sponsors, and Chevrolet. The members of this group will have to focus on the business aspects while also ensuring that they are taking care of Zilisch as a human and athlete.
"I think it'll be a group decision," team owner Justin Marks said on Sunday. "He's a competitor, so he's already looking at the regular-season championship and going, 'If I can maybe -- somebody could get in the car, I could take the green flag at the next race and get out of the car. How do we do that?'
"It's just so fresh right now, but I think it's an important question because he's a huge asset and he's a huge part of the future of the business."
Connor Zilisch gives an update on his health after yesterday's hard fall in Victory Lane. pic.twitter.com/yxEupD6XFu
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) August 10, 2025
The Xfinity Series teams are off this week as the Truck Series and Cup Series teams head to Richmond Raceway. This provides Zilisch with some time to rest and recover after a fall in victory lane last weekend.
After that, however, Xfinity is back in action for a superspeedway race at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 22. This is a pivotal race in the battle for the regular-season championship, which Zilisch remains in contention for after taking sole possession of the points lead.
This is also a track where multi-car crashes occur with regularity. The potential for injury exists, something of which Zilisch is aware after he missed a race earlier this season due to a crash at Talladega Superspeedway.
Trackhouse Racing and JR Motorsports could keep Zilisch out of the No. 88 Chevrolet at Daytona before a potential return at Portland International Raceway on Aug. 30.
NASCAR would likely approve a playoff waiver due to the absence being for a medical reason. This would allow the Trackhouse development driver to continue recovering while keeping his playoff points.
Zilisch spoke to NBC Sports reporter Marty Snider during the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, and he acknowledged that they continue to work out the recovery timeline after he broke his collarbone.
"Yeah, we're still working out with all the doctors to figure out what's going to be the next steps, but I've got a little bit of motivation from Shane (van Gisbergen), my teammate," Zilisch said. "He had a plate put in (in 2021) and raced the weekend after.
"So I don't know if I'll be that quick, but hopefully, my young bones will heal fast and I'll be able to get back in it as soon as possible."