Connor Zilisch had plenty to celebrate after his latest victory at World Wide Technology Raceway, but the post-race party nearly turned into a frightening scene. The conversation quickly shifted from his dominant performance to a near-miss on the track, which left fans voicing their anger on social media.
This incident has now sparked urgent questions about whether NASCAR needs to rethink its post-race procedures before a close call becomes a tragedy.
How Did a Near-Miss Overshadow Connor Zilisch’s Latest Win?
Zilisch grabbed his 10th career victory this Saturday night in the Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog, once again proving why he’s considered one of the most talented young names in the sport. He led an impressive 121 of 160 laps in the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, collecting his ninth win of the season.
However, while Zilisch’s dominance was the story during the race, the bigger headline came moments after he crossed the finish line. As he began his usual burnout routine on the way to Victory Lane, cameras caught Zilisch coming terrifyingly close to hitting a NASCAR cameraman who was standing on the track.
Is it time for make camera crews get off the track while a driver is doing burnouts?
This was a close call with Connor Zilisch during his celebration. #NASCAR
: @TheCW_Sports pic.twitter.com/BAbc3a46C7
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) September 7, 2025
Although Zilisch stopped in time and no one was hurt, the situation sparked an immediate and intense reaction from NASCAR fans online.
Social media lit up with posts criticizing why a cameraman would be on the track while a car is performing burnouts. One frustrated fan posted the video and wrote, “Get the camera man off the race track, jeez.” Another joked, “Camera crews on racetrack should be a prison worthy offense for the director who told them to go out there.”
Camera crews on racetrack should be a prison worthy offense for the director who told them to go out there.
— ndgo (Running Knots) (@ndgo1370) September 7, 2025
The concerns continued to pour in as fans questioned the logic behind the practice. Another fan wrote, “It’s honestly kinda insane that they just send a guy out there on what is technically still a hot track.” Others pointed out that technology should make this unnecessary.
One user commented, “No ideas with modern technology why we still need a camera man that close. Get a drone cam??”
It’s honestly kinda insane that they just send a guy out there on what is technically still a hot track
— Zach McCraw (@ZachMcCraw4) September 7, 2025
Perhaps the most chilling take came from another fan, who wrote, “I’m glad everyone on here is on the same page. Unfortunately, it’s gonna take a life for NASCAR to react.”
Can Anything Slow Down Zilisch’s Record-Breaking Season?
Even with the incident overshadowing the celebration, Zilisch still walked away with another major milestone. His Gateway win secured the Xfinity Series Regular Season Championship, along with a 15-point bonus for the playoffs. He defeated reigning series champion Justin Allgaier by 53 points to claim the regular season title.
The win also marked his fourth straight victory, putting him in rare company. Only Sam Ard and Noah Gragson have previously grabbed four consecutive victories in Xfinity Series history. On top of that, the victory contributes to a record-breaking year for JR Motorsports, which now has 16 wins in a single season, the most ever for the team.
At just 19 years old, Zilisch has already built a reputation as one of the sport’s most talented young drivers. He is breaking rookie records and proving that his future in NASCAR is bright. However, as much as fans are impressed by his talent, the conversation after Gateway was rightly focused on the safety scare and how it can be prevented from happening again.
