NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch (88) during qualifying for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Connor Zilisch chimes in on Shane van Gisbergen's winning move in Chicago Xfinity Series race

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 10:43 PM ET

Ayrton Senna once said that if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.

That was the philosophy of Shane van Gisbergen on the final restart of Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street course, where van Gisbergen muscled his way past Connor Zilisch in turn 1 with the help of some contact.

After Zilisch made contact with the wall and was forced to battle for second, van Gisbergen drove off into the Windy City sunset for his fourth career Xfinity Series victory and his second consecutive in Chicago.

Zilisch was understandably frustrated after barely missing out on his third win of 2025, but didn't think van Gisbergen's move was an example of foul play.

The restart that sealed the deal. pic.twitter.com/jfcI3HPtT8
— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) July 5, 2025

"It wasn't dirty, no," Zilisch said in a post-race news conference when asked if van Gisbergen's move was egregious. "We're racing for the win on the last restart. I just didn't expect it. (It) kind of just caught me by surprise. I wouldn't consider it dirty at all. I could've done a better job keeping leverage, but I let him get a nose ahead of me and at that point, it's his corner. He can do what he wants to."

With van Gisbergen entering the July 12 Xfinity Series race at Sonoma next weekend, it wouldn't be surprising if he and Zilisch are once more battling for a race win in California. Daniel Suarez's departure from Trackhouse Racing following the 2025 season also opens up the possibility of Zilisch and van Gisbergen becoming Cup Series teammates in 2026, where they'd likely fight for more road course victories on Sunday.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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