During the Mission 300 at Watkins Glen, Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR Xfinity Series lead ended abruptly after a collision with teammate Connor Zilisch with 16 laps remaining. The incident occurred as the two JR Motorsports drivers were fiercely competing on the road course, continuing a tense rivalry that had seen each driver win once before this season.
Van Gisbergen was leading the field at the start of stage two and successfully defended his position for several laps. However, as they entered turn six, Zilisch attempted to challenge van Gisbergen by pulling alongside but went wide. When rejoining the track, Zilisch’s car made contact with van Gisbergen’s rear right side, sending van Gisbergen hard into the barriers and forcing his retirement from the race due to significant damage.
Following Up: Reactions From Drivers Involved
Zilisch’s vehicle suffered noticeable scrapes along the nose and the left side but remained operational. After the incident, feeling uncertain about his role in the crash, Zilisch asked his spotter for honest feedback on whether he had caused the wreck.
“I just don’t know where I could’ve gone, He didn’t leave me any room to rejoin.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
“You’ve got to shake it off and win this race, worry about it later.”
—Josh Williams, Spotter
“Don’t lie to me if I f***ing wrecked him either like you did at Iowa, if I wrecked him, tell me.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
“I’m not lying to you, you had one lane to get back on the track.”
—Josh Williams, Spotter
Van Gisbergen has yet to review footage of the incident and has refrained from placing blame. However, speaking to The CW, he expressed his disappointment over the outcome for both himself and his team, highlighting the frustration of a promising race cut short.
“Pretty gutted actually. Gutted for the JR Motorsports team. Our car wasn’t great, but we still went and managed to get ourselves in a good position.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Zilisch Takes Control Amidst Chaotic Closing Laps
After the collision, Zilisch restarted fifth but quickly surged to the front, seizing the lead. The race was soon halted under a red flag with nine laps remaining due to a major multi-car crash involving Michael McDowell, which collected 16 vehicles near turns five and six. Despite the chaos, Zilisch maintained enough composure to position himself as a strong contender for the win.
Significance of the Crash and What’s Next
The crash between van Gisbergen and Zilisch epitomizes the intense competition and fine margins on road courses within the NASCAR Xfinity Series. For van Gisbergen, who had held the lead valiantly, this race represented a missed opportunity to secure another victory, following his success earlier in Chicago. The incident not only affected individual results but also highlighted the pressures teammates face when racing closely at the front.
With Zilisch demonstrating resilience by quickly recovering to lead after the crash, his growing presence in the series gains momentum, suggesting that future matchups with van Gisbergen and others from JR Motorsports will remain closely contested. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the significant crash involving multiple competitors will likely prompt further safety assessments and race management reviews at Watkins Glen.