Connor Zilisch claimed pole position in the Xfinity Series qualifying at Watkins Glen, with Shane van Gisbergen securing the front row alongside him. Zilisch’s pole was notable as his fifth of the 2024 season, marking the highest count among all drivers so far. Van Gisbergen also showed competitive pace, narrowly missing the Cup Series pole in a close battle with Ryan Blaney, who edged him out by just 0.033 seconds, securing Penske’s 150th Cup pole for the upcoming race.
Despite minor body damage during practice caused by contact with Christian Eckes and Sam Mayer, van Gisbergen maintained strong qualifying performance. His second-fastest time in the Xfinity session paired him with Zilisch at the front of the grid, setting the stage for a highly competitive weekend at Watkins Glen.
Early Race Developments and Stage Strategies
At the start of the 82-lap Xfinity race, Zilisch converted his pole into an immediate lead, fending off van Gisbergen through the opening corners. The two JR Motorsports teammates quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field, with Sam Mayer and Taylor Gray battling for third place behind them. The race’s first caution emerged on Lap 5 after Josh Bilicki’s Chevrolet was pushed into the gravel following contact with Ryan Sieg.
When racing resumed on Lap 8, Zilisch again held off van Gisbergen, who briefly slipped to third before recovering his second position the next lap. By Lap 14, Zilisch had extended his advantage to over three seconds, with van Gisbergen maintaining a lead of 2.5 seconds over third-placed William Sawalich.
Approaching the end of Stage 1, van Gisbergen opted for an early pit stop to address grip and balance issues, while Zilisch continued on track until just before the stage’s conclusion. After pit stops cycled under the caution, Justin Allgaier, who had remained out, claimed the Stage 1 win, with Zilisch retaking the race lead following the stops.
Zilisch’s Commanding Performance in Stage Two
The second stage began with Zilisch leading alongside William Sawalich on the front row, while van Gisbergen started fourth after a less-than-ideal launch that dropped him briefly behind Sam Smith. Minor incidents unfolded behind the leaders, including wall contact by Thomas Annunziata and an early pit stop by Blaine Perkins due to damage, but the front runners remained largely untroubled.
Zilisch maintained solid control, building a 2.7-second lead over Sawalich by Lap 30, with van Gisbergen running third, about two seconds further behind. Van Gisbergen closed in on Sam Mayer late in the stage, but Zilisch crossed the line six seconds ahead, securing Stage 2. Van Gisbergen finished directly behind him in second, with Mayer coming in third.
Intense Final Stage Battle and Van Gisbergen’s Crash
The final stage restart once again positioned van Gisbergen alongside Zilisch, but the pole-sitter defended his lead through the first three turns and gradually increased the gap to more than a second. With 31 laps remaining, van Gisbergen pitted under green flag conditions just before a heavy crash by Sheldon Creed brought out a caution. This timely stop allowed van Gisbergen to remain near the front, while Zilisch dropped to ninth after pitting under caution.
On the restart, van Gisbergen reclaimed the lead quickly, but Zilisch aggressively worked his way back through the field. By 23 laps remaining, Zilisch had caught his teammate and appeared to have the faster car. Van Gisbergen struggled with grip and defended his position fiercely, leading to a tense contest involving Austin Hill as well.
With 18 laps to go, Zilisch made a move at Turn 1 for the lead but ran wide. When rejoining at an awkward angle, his car’s nose made contact with van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet, sending the Kiwi driver hard into the wall in a crash that ended his race. Fortunately, van Gisbergen escaped serious injury but expressed his disappointment afterward.
Yeah, not ideal, pretty gutted really. Our car wasn’t great, but we still managed to get ourselves in a good position.
— Shane van Gisbergen
Zilisch reacted emotionally to the incident over team radio, questioning if he was at fault and asking for honesty from the crew.
I just don’t know where I could have done. He didn’t leave me any room to rejoin,
he said during the radio communication.
When challenged by his team to accept fault if necessary, Zilisch replied,
Don’t lie to me if I wrecked him either. … If I wrecked him, tell me.
Massive Multi-Car Crash Shakes Up the Closing Laps
The race’s intensity escalated again with 11 laps left. Zilisch had retaken the lead ahead of Austin Hill and McDowell. At the end of the back straight, Hill made contact with McDowell, sending the latter hard into the wall and then back into the pack. This collision triggered a chain-reaction crash involving multiple vehicles and significantly disrupted the race.
The incident caused damage to a wide range of drivers’ cars, including Jesse Love, Preston Pardus, Daniel Dye, William Sawalich, Kaz Grala, Dean Thompson, Jeb Burton, Kyle Sieg, Ryan Sieg, Anthony Alfredo, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Gray, Ryan Ellis, and Josh Bilicki. The track required an extended clean-up before racing could resume.
Zilisch Clinches Victory but Suffers Injury in Victory Lane
After the clean-up, the race restarted with four laps remaining. Zilisch quickly overtook Sammy Smith and managed to hold the lead to secure his sixth win of the season. This victory extended his run to 11 consecutive top-five finishes and contributed to JR Motorsports’ impressive total of 13 wins this year. The final top five consisted of Zilisch, Sam Mayer, Sammy Smith, Austin Hill, and Carson Kvapil.
However, celebrations were cut short as Zilisch suffered a frightening fall in Victory Lane. While climbing onto his car, he lost his footing and fell heavily, hitting his head and neck, while his ankle became entangled in the car’s window and netting. Emergency responders immediately attended to him, and he was transported by ambulance to the infield medical center. Authorities confirmed he was conscious and communicating with medical personnel. Further updates on his condition are awaited.
Implications and Upcoming Expectations
Connor Zilisch’s Watkins Glen victory and sustained form underscore his role as a leading competitor in the 2024 Xfinity Series, reinforcing JR Motorsports’ dominance this season. Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen’s crash serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and competitive nature of road course racing, where tight battles often result in dramatic moments.
With the season progressing, both drivers will face upcoming challenges as they look to secure further strong results. The incidents at Watkins Glen are likely to influence team strategies and driver approaches in the next races, particularly in managing aggressive on-track battles and ensuring safety in tight quarters.