Connor Zilisch's No. 88 JR Motorsports team tapes door on after wreck, spilled foam brings caution at Atlanta

Bad news for Connor Zilisch as he suffered too much damage in a wreck, losing his right side door panel and the foam contained in it. Sam Mayer hit Zilisch while wrecking and caused the issue for the young NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie.

Connor Zilisch spent time in the top five earlier in the race. However, he found himself struggling late after getting into a minor incident prior to his contact with Mayer.

With the cold temperatures tonight in Atlanta, the bear bond would not adhere to the car. So, that door panel popped open again when Zilisch got up to speed. It then caused a debris caution with foam and tape on the track.

Here is the wreck with Mayer.

.@sam_mayer_ involved in a big wreck and we're back under caution in Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/FAEjJbyLmP

— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 23, 2025

Then Connor Zilisch came to pit road for work. You can see that bear bond laid out on the hood of the car ready to be used.

That right side has seen it all tonight.

CZ’s back on pit road as the team goes to work. pic.twitter.com/P7sB42IqBB

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) February 23, 2025

And after he left the track and went to the garage.

The 88 back in the garage with much of the door and foam missing. pic.twitter.com/rJvScGf1V0

— Bozi Tatarevic (@BoziTatarevic) February 23, 2025

Usually, this wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Teams tape panels and pieces of metal down all the time. When the temperatures get in that sub-50-degree range, that’s when the tape stops working. It has happened every year in NASCAR.

These first two weeks have not gone too great for Zilisch. He found himself wrecked last week at Daytona and once again got into an incident on the track that hindered his performance and final result.

Things are going to get better for Zilisch very soon, though.

Connor Zilisch making Cup debut at COTA in one week

Next week, enough of these superspeedways. The NASAR circus is heading to Austin, Texas and the Circuit of the Americas. That is where Connor Zilisch can change his luck in the Xfinity Series, and leave his mark on the sport in a much bigger way.

Not only is Zilisch’s strength on road courses, he has double duty next week. Zilisch will make his Cup Series debut in a fourth Trackhouse Racing car, sponsored by Red Bull. The No. 87 car will go up against Shane van Gisbergen, Kyle Larson, and the other strong road course racers in the Cup Series.

On top of that, NASCAR is utilizing the shorter course at COTA. To give fans more action and promote more racing, the short course will be used and that could give Zilisch a more even playing field.

Two tough weeks to start Connor Zilisch’s rookie season in the Xfinity Series. That will likely change next week at COTA. We will see what Zilisch can do in Cup Series equipment.