The Loop 110: Van Gisbergen Dominates in Chicago
Chicago, IL — Shane van Gisbergen showcased his prowess on the Chicago Street Course, winning The Loop 110 on Saturday in a masterclass performance. The 36-year-old New Zealander, driving for JR Motorsports, secured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season, triumphing over teammate Conor Zilisch by 0.823 seconds.
Van Gisbergen, who started from pole position, battled not only the competition but also a malfunctioning cool suit in sweltering conditions. Despite a challenging carburetor issue and a strategic decision that saw him stay out during the early stages when most competitors pitted, van Gisbergen executed a flawless race to earn his fourth career victory in the series.
“The strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said van Gisbergen, highlighting the fast pace of his car and acknowledging Zilisch as a formidable competitor. “I knew that was my opportunity, and I took it. Awesome 1-2 for the team,” he added.
Zilisch, who started from 35th place due to earlier practice missteps, commented on the aggressive move made by van Gisbergen in Turn 1 with two laps remaining. “I was clear there… he took advantage of it,” admitted Zilisch, reflecting on the encounter. “I’ll learn from it and move on.”
Sheldon Creed claimed third place, finishing 3.141 seconds off the lead. Creed, who led the field to a restart with 13 laps to go, expressed the need for improvement in his road course racing skills.
The race saw van Gisbergen lead a total of 27 laps compared to Zilisch’s 11 and Creed’s nine. Austin Hill finished fourth, followed by Atlanta winner Nick Sanchez in fifth. The top 10 was rounded out by Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Austin Green, and Brennan Poole.
In the points standings, Justin Allgaier remains in the lead, holding a 49-point advantage over second-place Hill despite finishing 23rd due to late-race brake issues.
This victory marks van Gisbergen as the sixth different driver to win for JR Motorsports in 2023, setting a series record for a single season.
