WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Connor Zilisch was back Sunday at Watkins Glen International and recounting his scary fall in victory lane.
After winning Saturday’s Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a celebratory perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive in the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.
“First of all, I’m doing OK,†Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the Cup race. “Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn’t walk away, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right. Thank you to all the medics who took care of me, and everybody who reached out and wished me well. I do appreciate it a lot.â€
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Connor Zilisch steers down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
After his series-high sixth victory, Zilisch realized he was in trouble immediately after the chaos began in victory lane, which typically is a frenzied scene of winning team members cheering and tossing beverages as their driver exits the car.
“Yeah, I was climbing out of the car and obviously the window net was on the door, and as soon as they started spraying water, my foot slipped,†he said. “And the last thing I remember was being halfway down and falling, so I’m glad it wasn’t any worse, and that the collarbone is the extent of the injuries, but hate I couldn’t make it to the race today.â€
FILE - Connor Zilisch smiles prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, May 25, 2025, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley, file)
The question now turns to whether Zilisch will be ready in time to race in the next Xfinity race on Aug. 22 at Daytona International Speedway.
“We’re still working out with all the doctors to figure out what’s going to be the next steps,†Zilisch said.
He already has shown to be a quick healer this season. After a one-race absence at Texas Motor Speedway because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, Zilisch had posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes and five wins since his return.
He noted that Trackhouse teammate Shane van Gisbergen “had a place put in once 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.â€
Why is my car insurance so high?
5. Lapse in Insurance
Failing to pay your insurance premiums could cause your insurer to drop you, leading to a lapse in car insurance coverage. Even if you don't own a car or aren't driving, having a gap in coverage typically leads to higher premiums when you next purchase car insurance. Purchasing non-owner car insurance or maintaining a minimum amount of coverage when you don't plan to drive can help you avoid this risk.
6. Driving More
Putting more miles on your car increases your odds of being involved in an accident. In general, car insurance companies consider driving 15,000 miles or more annually high mileage, while driving 12,000 or less is considered low mileage. A new job with a long commute could push your mileage out of the low-mileage zone or even into the high-mileage range, both of which may cause a premium increase.
7. Buying a New Car
Whether you add another car to your policy or replace an existing car with a new vehicle, be prepared for a rate increase. The cost of insuring your new car depends on factors such as the cost of repairing or replacing it, its safety record and whether it's a model that's frequently stolen. If the vehicle is financed, the lender may require purchasing comprehensive and collision coverage, which adds to your costs.
8. Getting Older
Turning 55 can bring good news in the form of a discount on your car insurance. People ages 55 to 69 tend to drive cautiously and log fewer miles, reducing their risk of accidents. However, your 70th birthday is likely to bring a premium hike, since drivers aged 70 and up are statistically more likely to be involved in serious accidents.
9. Getting Divorced
Your insurance premiums may rise after a divorce. Married people are statistically less likely to file auto insurance claims, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Married people may also be more likely to qualify for price reductions such as discounts for homeownership or bundling home and car insurance.
10. Increasing Your Insurance Coverage
Purchasing more insurance coverage generally increases your premiums. When you choose to bump up coverage amounts or add optional coverage, such as roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement, be prepared to pay more. Several states, including California, North Carolina, Utah and Virginia, have raised their required minimum coverage limits effective Jan. 1, 2025, which will likely mean higher premiums for drivers in these locations.
11. Inflation
The cost of car insurance has soared by record amounts in the past few years as inflation has driven increases in the cost of auto parts, new vehicles and labor. Another factor in the surge in premiums is the number of severe weather events, which has increased dramatically in the last five years, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. To compensate for the rising cost of claims, insurance companies are raising rates. The cost of car insurance increased by 12.7% from November 2023 to November 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
12. Low Credit Score
In most states, insurance companies can use credit-based insurance scores to help determine your car insurance premiums. These scores, which assess how likely you are to file a claim, are determined by using data from your credit report (and possibly other noncredit information). As a result, checking your regular credit score can be a good indicator of your credit-based insurance score. If your score falls on the lower end of the , insurance companies may be likely to charge you more for car insurance.
The Cost of Car Insurance Continues to Rise
If you've noticed an increase in your car insurance premiums, you aren't alone. After decreasing during the pandemic, car insurance costs returned to pre-pandemic levels at the beginning of 2022 and have kept rising ever since, according to BLS data.
The chart below shows trends in auto insurance premiums from January 2020 to November 2024. In 2023 alone, auto insurance premiums rose by 17.9%. As of November 2024, the average premium has risen by 18.5% year-to-date.
Why Did My Car Insurance Premiums Go Up for No Reason?
Even if you maintain a spotless driving record and don't change your coverage, factors that have nothing to do with you can cause your car insurance premiums to rise. Despite a decline in claim frequency in recent years, insurance carriers' costs have risen due to:
- Escalating costs of materials and labor for auto repairs
- Technological advances that make vehicles costlier to repair
- More severe accidents, increasing the number of serious injuries and fatalities
- An upswing in lawsuits arising from motor vehicle accidents
- A high percentage of uninsured/underinsured motorists
- Rising frequency of auto insurance fraud
How to Save on Car Insurance
While the cost of car insurance isn't always under your control, there are several steps you can take to save.
- Look for discounts. You might get discounts for paying online, installing anti-theft equipment, belonging to certain organizations or bundling home and auto insurance, for example.
- Drop nonessential coverage. Cutting out extras like rental car coverage, windshield replacement insurance or roadside assistance can lower your premiums. You may even want to drop collision and comprehensive coverage if you have an older, paid-off car.
- Investigate usage-based car insurance. If you drive less than 12,000 or 10,000 miles per year, you may qualify for low-mileage or pay-per-mile car insurance, which can mean significant savings.
- Choose a bigger deductible. Just be sure you can afford to pay the higher deductible if you need to file a claim.
- Clean up your driving record. Avoid getting traffic tickets and see if you can remove traffic citations from your motor vehicle record by completing a driver safety course.
- Shop around. Regularly from different companies could help you find more affordable coverage.
Better Credit Could Mean Lower Car Insurance Premiums
With car insurance costs on the rise, it's more important than ever to look for ways to save. If your isn't where you'd like, taking steps to improve it could help you pay less for car insurance. Focus on paying your bills on time, bringing late accounts current and reducing credit card debt. Practicing these positive habits can help improve your financial health—and may lower your car insurance premiums too.
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