Denny Hamlin has become one of the oldest drivers still competing in the NASCAR Cup Series, especially following the recent retirements of Kevin Harvick in 2023 and Martin Truex Jr. last season. At 44 years old, Hamlin continues to maintain a high level of performance, but he acknowledges that the physical demands of racing are taking a greater toll as he ages, and injuries now carry longer recovery times than before.
Drawing a parallel to a recent incident involving young driver Connor Zilisch, who suffered a broken collarbone during a victory lane accident at Watkins Glen, Hamlin contrasted their recoveries. While Zilisch was back at the Cup race the next day with a neck strap aiding his healing, Hamlin admitted he would likely still be hospitalized if he had experienced the same injury. This highlights the increased challenges Hamlin faces as age impacts his resilience on and off the track.
Hamlin’s Reaction to Zilisch’s Crash and Injury Severity
On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin described his immediate response upon witnessing Zilisch’s fall. He said,
I watched it and I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I’m genuinely concerned. First thing I thought, and I told Jordan this, I say, ‘Oh man, that’s a collarbone-breaker right there.’ You fall just right there. And sure enough, he broke that.
Hamlin initially feared the crash was even worse, thinking,
But I thought he snapped his leg. I thought he had a concussion. It was just violent. I’d still be in the hospital. I mean to be young again, holy c**p. There’s no way. I don’t think I’m ever going to stand on top of my car again.
These candid remarks reveal his awareness of how age influences the ability to recover quickly from serious accidents.
Current Status of Zilisch’s Recovery and Upcoming Competitions
Connor Zilisch’s recovery now depends on medical evaluations and treatment, with the Xfinity Series not racing this weekend, providing a two-week period before the next event at Daytona. This break is crucial for Zilisch, who missed the Texas Motor Speedway race earlier in the season due to injuries from a Talladega crash. Missing Daytona could mean his second event this season sidelined by injury, which may affect his championship goals.
Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin is preparing to compete at Richmond, aiming for his fifth victory of the current season, demonstrating his continued competitiveness despite the challenges posed by age.
Humor and Relief from Zilisch’s Father After the Incident
Once Connor Zilisch regained consciousness and was deemed stable, his father, Jim Zilisch, shared a message with fans to reassure them. Jim’s post included a light-hearted comment intended to ease tension, saying,
Silver lining. Pooping himself is no longer his most embarrassing moment.
This joke helped ease Hamlin’s concerns about the young driver’s condition.
Hamlin responded to Jim’s humor, explaining,
It gave me a little sense of like, ‘Okay, he’s going to be fine.’ If his dad’s joking around on social media, it gave me at least a breath of like, ‘All right, I think he’s going to be okay,’
showing how such levity brought some comfort amid a serious situation.
