Despite Connor Zilisch’s inclusion on the entry list for this weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway, Trackhouse Racing’s Justin Marks cautioned that the injured rookie may be a “game-time decision” during an interview Monday Afternoon.
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Following the Aug. 9 race at Watkins Glen International, Trackhouse Racing prospect Connor Zilisch fell off his car in victory lane and broke his collarbone.
While the Xfinity Series had last weekend off, there is no word on Zilisch’s availability for this weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway. However, on Monday afternoon, Zilisch was featured in the preliminary entry list for Friday’s race, giving some hope that the 19-year-old will not have to apply for his second Playoff Medical Wavier this season.
But during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Monday afternoon, Justin Marks, Owner of Trackhouse Racing, clarified that Zilisch, who is in his rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, is not confirmed for the race and that the decision to race “could end up being a game-time decision.”
Marks, a veteran racer himself, stressed that the reason for this uncertainty is that the team must find a balance between Zilisch’s eagerness to get back behind the wheel and what’s right for the rookie in the long run.
“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,” Marks said. “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. . . So it’s kind of a day-by-day deal right now.”
Last Tuesday, Zilisch confirmed that he had surgery on his collarbone, including the addition of a plate and screws. Now, with just days until cars hit the track in Daytona, Marks says that this will be a “big week” to check the young drivers’ comfort level in the car, with a decision potentially coming down to the wire.
“It could end up being kind of 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 gotta make smart decisions, so I would just say stay tuned on that one.” — Justin Marks
He went on to say that this decision would not be up to the driver and would be a “decision by committee” as several outside forces are “vested in his [Zilisch] program this year.” Marks pointed out that all of those entities are focused on getting the Xfinity Series points leader back in the car, but not at the risk of further injury.
“We’ll make a decision together on what the best path forward is, with the caveat being that we want him in the race car, but we also want the kid to be healthy and driving for us for a long time,” Marks said.
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If Zilisch were to miss this Friday’s Xfinity Series race at Daytona, the current rookie of the year and points leader will have to apply for yet another Playoff Waiver.
His first medical waiver was issued in late April after Zilisch was injured in a wreck at Talladega. Fortunately, this was around the time of a short break in the early part of the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule, meaning he missed just one race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Zilisch has amassed six wins this season and, despite missing one race, sits atop the Xfinity Series Standings and Playoff Picture with just three races until the first race of the Xfinity Series playoffs.
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