Zilisch Outduels Van Gisbergen for Victory at Sonoma
In a thrilling finish at the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 held at Sonoma Raceway, Connor Zilisch triumphed over his more experienced JR Motorsports teammate Shane van Gisbergen, capturing his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season and the fourth of his career.
Zilisch and van Gisbergen dominated the race, leading a combined 70 of 79 laps. The pair’s only laps outside the front were due to short pitting during the stage breaks to reclaim track position. Zilisch’s victory avenged a controversial encounter the previous week at the Chicago Street Course, where van Gisbergen had edged him out for the win.
The decisive moments came in the closing laps as van Gisbergen made multiple attempts to overtake Zilisch. A critical bump in Turn 7 on the final lap nearly cost Zilisch the lead, but he maintained control and pulled away, winning by 0.438 seconds.
Post-race, Zilisch praised van Gisbergen, stating, “I felt like we were racing each other with respect… It’s always the hardest trying to save fuel while someone’s breathing down your neck.” He expressed excitement for their upcoming race at Watkins Glen, noting, “I hope I can beat him again there.”
Van Gisbergen, reflecting on the race, acknowledged the fine line between competition and aggression: “I didn’t want to do it like that, and then we raced down the hill. What an awesome race. I had a blast all day.”
Zilisch’s strategic pit work enabled him to lead the final restart on lap 51, successfully fending off van Gisbergen’s pressure. He led 46 laps compared to van Gisbergen’s 24.
William Sawalich, following a victory in Friday’s ARCA race, secured third place, finishing 13.668 seconds behind Zilisch. Nick Sanchez, Riley Herbst, and series leader Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five, while JR Motorsports placed five drivers in the top nine, further solidifying their dominance this season with 10 wins in 19 races.
Zilisch’s victory sees him tie Allgaier and Austin Hill for the series lead with three wins. He commented on the importance of fair competition, noting, “I didn’t want to have to do anything dirty to win this race, and I’m glad I didn’t.”
Results
- Connor Zilisch
- Shane van Gisbergen
- William Sawalich
- Nick Sanchez
- Riley Herbst
- Justin Allgaier
- Taylor Gray
- Carson Kvapil
- Sammy Smith
- Sheldon Creed
