Road course racing in NASCAR often presents some of the most exciting yet divisive moments on the calendar. At the recent Chicago Street Course event, Trackhouse Racing’s Shane Van Gisbergen secured back-to-back victories, raising both admiration and debate about his aggressive driving tactics. Meanwhile, young talent Connor Zilisch has captured the attention of NASCAR insiders, who see him as a potential challenger to Van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses.

Podcast Hosts Praise Connor Zilisch’s Potential to Rival Shane Van Gisbergen

On the Door Bumper Clear podcast, hosts and guests deliberated over the weekend’s racing, especially focusing on Zilisch’s performance alongside Van Gisbergen. The conversation began when Karsyn Elledge questioned a move Van Gisbergen made on Zilisch, asking,

“SVG’s move on Zilisch for the win on Saturday, wasn’t clean?”

Tommy Baldwin offered insight into the racing incident, explaining the close contest between the two drivers. Freddie Kraft replied,

“I don’t think he [SVG] did anything wrong. He moved him off his line a little bit into one, but it wasn’t like he ran him over or anything like that.”

Erik Jones, a Cup Series driver and podcast guest, agreed with that assessment and described the battle as hard racing, signaling respect for both competitors’ skills and intensity.

Experts Confident in Zilisch’s Readiness for the Cup Series Stage

Tommy Baldwin expressed enthusiasm about Zilisch’s future, recalling his strong debut at the Circuit of the Americas earlier in the year. He remarked,

“He was going to finish in the top two or three. He had that good of a car.”

Baldwin went further to predict a fierce competition between Zilisch and Van Gisbergen once the young driver reaches NASCAR’s top tier, stating,

“He’s going to give SVG a run for his money. He’s that good.”

Consistent Performance in Xfinity Series Signals Zilisch’s Growth

The panel acknowledged Zilisch’s recent streak of top-five finishes in the Xfinity Series, highlighting his consistent competitiveness. Erik Jones shared his personal observations after seeing Zilisch in Mexico, noting,

“I saw him [Zilisch] in Mexico after the Cup race, and I’m like, ‘Man, you destroy your car every road course. You’re like a half-second faster than the field.’”

Jones also reflected on the typical path drivers take toward success in the Cup Series, emphasizing the importance of balancing aggression with control. He advised,

“You look at any guy that’s in the Cup Series and has won races or at least runs well. At some point in their career, they were the best. Be it late models, trucks, or something else, they were dominating. Like they were the guy, right? And he’s doing that or is very close to it in Xfinity. If he could just rein it in like 5%, he would be pretty unstoppable.”

Rising Stars Set to Shake Up NASCAR’s Road Course Landscape

As Shane Van Gisbergen continues to assert his dominance on road courses in NASCAR, Connor Zilisch’s rapid development and aggressive performance signal a thrilling shift in competition. Experts like Baldwin and Jones anticipate exciting showdowns in the near future, especially when Zilisch advances into the Cup Series full time. This emerging rivalry promises to deepen the intensity of road course racing and capture the interest of fans nationwide.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit?

A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the best choice by leaving Supercars to chase a NASCAR career. This year, he’s competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. Before this, he spent 15 years racing in Supercars.

Q. How much did Shane van Gisbergen win in NASCAR?

A. Stewart-Haas Racing is shutting down after 16 years. Stewart mentioned that securing sponsors for a four-car team was difficult. His departure happens as NASCAR teams are uneasy about the sport’s future.