A late restart with just two laps remaining at the Loop 110 on the Chicago Street Circuit set up a tense showdown between Trackhouse Racing and JR Motorsports teammates Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen. The incident left Zilisch frustrated, as he expected van Gisbergen to race him more fairly during the critical moment on July 5.
Zilisch faced a tough start after crashing during practice, which affected his qualifying position. Despite this setback, he steadily advanced through the field before the final restart. However, he regrets not holding his position better, allowing van Gisbergen to overtake him on the inside entering Turn 1.
After securing second place in the race, Zilisch shared his thoughts in an interview with CW:
“I guess I should have just not let him get to my bottom. I was clear there, just barely on the frontstretch, and just let him get to my inside and take advantage of it. Hate it for my 88 group.” —Connor Zilisch, driver
At just 18 years old, Zilisch has shown remarkable skill this season, and this missed opportunity could have added a third victory to his record. After eighteen events, he holds fifth place in the driver standings with 571 points, including seven top-five finishes and nine top-10s.
Reflecting further on the incident, he added:
“Should have just been more aggressive there; I just thought he was gonna race me a little cleaner. I’ll learn from it, I’ll move on.” —Connor Zilisch, driver
Zilisch will aim to bounce back at the upcoming Sonoma Raceway, where he will compete in the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, a 79-lap race scheduled to air on CW at 4:30 p.m. ET. Shane van Gisbergen is also expected to participate, with radio coverage available via PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Lessons from the No. 88 Team: Crew Chief Explains What Could Have Changed
Following the rocky start to the weekend, where Zilisch qualified 35th due to his practice crash, his crew chief Mardy Lindley highlighted the challenge of climbing through the pack to challenge for the lead. By Lap 38, Zilisch had advanced to the front, overtaking Sheldon Creed in Turn 5.
When a caution emerged with just five laps left, Lindley anticipated a fierce battle would follow between the two teammates:
“I thought our teammate ran him pretty wide off the corner right there. I thought that was a difference in a race,” Lindley said. “Me, personally, should have left him (Connor Zilisch) a lane, because we were clear here, and we just didn’t want to chop him and get in front of him, we chose not to do that.” —Mardy Lindley, crew chief
He noted that van Gisbergen was able to capitalize on the situation:
“Then he used us up down there. So whoever got the lead on the restart was going to win the race.” —Mardy Lindley, crew chief
Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen is set to compete in the Cup Series Grant Park 165 on July 6, having secured the pole position. He will start alongside fellow full-time Cup Series driver Michael McDowell. Fans can watch the race live on TNT Sports starting at 2 p.m. ET or access radio updates on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Key Implications for Upcoming Races and Driver Standings
Connor Zilisch’s near-win and the incident with van Gisbergen illustrate the intense dynamics between teammates fighting for victories late in races. Zilisch’s performance, despite adversity, maintains his strong standing in the season points, while van Gisbergen’s aggressive tactics secured him an important advantage on the Chicago Street Circuit.
The upcoming races, including Sonoma Raceway’s Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 and the Cup Series Grant Park 165, will be crucial for both drivers as they seek redemption and opportunities to improve their positions. Zilisch’s resolve to learn from the Chicago incident and van Gisbergen’s continued competitiveness promise exciting developments for their teams and fans closely following the NASCAR season.