UPDATE: On Thursday, JR Motorsports confirmed that Connor Zilisch, the full-time driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet, has been granted a waiver for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series postseason.
Zilisch, who won the Xfinity Series event at Circuit of The Americas earlier this season, remains eligible to participate in the 12-driver playoffs this Fall.
Connor Zilisch, who suffered a hard impact on the final lap of last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, will not compete in this weekend’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.
According to a statement released by his JR Motorsports team on Wednesday, “Zilisch continues to recover from a lower back injury sustained last weekend at Talladega.”
Statement from JR Motorsports. pic.twitter.com/Q2oT4hqKku
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) April 30, 2025
Kyle Larson will compete in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in place of the recovering 18-year-old Zilisch in this weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Following the official announcement, Zilisch issued a post on his X account thanking Larson for filling in for him, and expressing that he will continue doing everything in his power to return to the No. 88 Chevrolet as soon as he can.
“Thank you to @KyleLarsonRacin for stepping up for me this weekend and everyone who has helped me through this process. Doing everything I can to be back as soon as possible,” Zilisch’s post read.
Thank you to @KyleLarsonRacin for stepping up for me this weekend and everyone who has helped me through this process. Doing everything I can to be back as soon as possible?? https://t.co/BMbM6DFeqj
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) April 30, 2025
Zilisch was the leader of the race on the final lap of last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, when he was turned from the lead after contact from Jesse Love. Zilisch spun to the inside of the track, and went head-first into the inside wall on the backstretch.
After contacting the SAFER barrier on the inside of the track, Zilisch radioed that he was experiencing discomfort in his back.
Zilisch was evaluated and released from the infield care center, where he conducted interviews with the media. In the post-care center interviews, Zilisch indicated that while he was sore, the X-ray came back negative for any bones being broken, and that he expected to compete at Texas Motor Speedway.
While there may have been no broken bones, it appears the discomfort that Zilisch has experienced in his lower back since the crash has led to him missing this weekend’s race.
Zilisch has scored one win, three top-10s, and three poles through the opening 11 races of his rookie NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign. Prior to this weekend’s event at Texas, Zilisch ranks sixth in the NASCAR Xfinity Series regular season championship standings.
Through his first 15 career starts in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition, Zilisch has already collected two victories.
