Connor Zilisch set the fastest time in the Sonoma Raceway practice session ahead of the upcoming Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, putting himself in an excellent position for the race on July 12. Zilisch completed a 75.271-second lap on the 1.99-mile road course, narrowly outpacing Shane van Gisbergen, who posted the third-best time during the practice.
The part-time driver Shane van Gisbergen, competing in the #9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, clocked a lap time of 76.134 seconds. Jesse Love recorded the second-fastest time of 75.896 seconds, placing him between Zilisch and van Gisbergen. Sheldon Creed and Sammy Smith rounded out the top five fastest drivers during the session.
Race Preview and Previous Rivalry Between Zilisch and van Gisbergen
This practice session sets the stage for a highly anticipated rematch between Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen, following their intense battle on the streets of Chicago last weekend. The decisive moment during that race came on the second-to-last lap when van Gisbergen forced Zilisch to the wall at turn one, allowing van Gisbergen to seize the lead and eventually claim the win.
Van Gisbergen’s success did not stop there; he also won the Cup Series race the subsequent day, completing a weekend sweep. Van Gisbergen races primarily with Trackhouse Racing in the #88 Chevrolet and is one of two rookies in the premier NASCAR Cup Series, alongside Riley Herbst. Meanwhile, Zilisch competes full-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and has already captured two race victories this year.
The upcoming Sonoma Raceway event will cover 79 laps and begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on July 12. Zilisch’s strong performance in practice suggests he will be a frontrunner against a competitive field that includes several top rookies and veterans.
Connor Zilisch Reflects on Chicago Race and Key Moments
Reflecting on his recent race against Shane van Gisbergen in Chicago, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch shared his perspective on the critical move that cost him the lead late in the event. He had not anticipated van Gisbergen’s aggressive maneuver on turn one and wished he had defended the inside line more firmly.
“Just before the brake zone, I got called to clear and I didn’t take it because I wanted to be on the inside for turn two, expecting us to exit turn one, side-by-side. And if I knew that I wouldn’t have exited turn one, side-by-side, and he was going to take it and clear himself, I would have blocked and protected the inside line more.” —Connor Zilisch, Driver
Zilisch acknowledged the competitive nature of the move without considering it unfair, expressing a willingness to learn from the experience.
“So yeah. I definitely would have done it differently, knowing what his plan was. But that’s racing, and it wasn’t dirty. It was just aggressive and something I’ll take note of.” —Connor Zilisch, Driver
Standing After Chicago and Prospects for Future Street Races
In the Chicago race, Zilisch finished second behind van Gisbergen, with Sheldon Creed coming in third. The remainder of the top ten included Austin Hill, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Austin Green, and Brennan Poole. This tight competition reflects a strong field heading into the Sonoma event.
Although the Chicago event was compelling, NASCAR has yet to renew its contract with the city to hold future street races. Discussions are underway regarding potential alternative locations, with San Diego emerging as a leading candidate for hosting upcoming urban stock car races.
Connor Zilisch’s performance in the Sonoma Raceway practice underlines his rising status among NASCAR rookies and highlights an ongoing rivalry with Shane van Gisbergen that promises exciting racing action in the weeks ahead.