Shane van Gisbergen added another highlight to his season with a triumphant Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Chicago victory, overcoming intense competition and soaring heat at The Loop 110 on the downtown street circuit. Displaying remarkable control and determination, van Gisbergen surged past fellow JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch after a decisive final restart, clinching the win in front of a packed Chicago crowd.
Van Gisbergen’s Tenacity Leads to Another Street Triumph
Arriving as a strong contender after securing the pole position for both national series events at the Chicago Street Race, Shane van Gisbergen once again leveraged his reputation as a master on road courses. Despite dealing with a failing cool suit that forced him into the care center post-race, he steered his No. 9 NASCAR Xfinity Series in Chicago.
The climax of van Gisbergen’s drive came during the final restart of the 50-lap event. Teammate and rookie Connor Zilisch, who began the day at the tail end of the grid, challenged fiercely, but van Gisbergen muscled past at Turn 1, pushing Zilisch into the outside barrier. The veteran then pulled away across the remaining circuit, ultimately taking the checkered flag 0.823 seconds ahead. Reflecting on the moment, van Gisbergen shared,
“I knew that was my opportunity, and I took it.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
High Temperatures, Rising Tension in the Windy City
On a hot Saturday, fans crowded improvised bleachers along Turns 1 through 6, witnessing a fierce street race with no shortage of aggressive overtakes and near-misses.
“Turn 1/6 is PACKED for this xfinity race man, this is so sick. The people wanna see what’s up. Get a view any way you can 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4T5bF7C4CG”
—Diego Alvarado, Spectator
Early in the race, Sheldon Creed attempted to overtake the pole-sitter, but van Gisbergen’s quick response soon restored his lead. By Lap 6, van Gisbergen held a comfortable margin, showcasing his command of the circuit. Meanwhile, William Sawalich’s day unraveled due to electrical issues on lap 7, dropping him from contention and securing him a difficult record for Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series program.
“Here’s a nugget: through 18 races this season, William Sawalich now has the worst record for a full-time Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series driver in organization history. Just a ridiculously rough season for the Minnesota teen. #NASCAR 📷: John Harrelson/NKP for @ToyotaRacing pic.twitter.com/lBqdM2y5IH”
—Jacob Seelman, Reporter
Playoff Points and Podium Pressure
Sheldon Creed staged a consistent performance, nearly seizing the lead early and holding onto a podium finish. He completed Stage 1 in second and Stage 2 in first, ultimately taking third place overall.
“Sheldon Creed finished P3 in today’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Stage 1- P2Stage 2- P1 +1 playoff point+53 regular season points 📍 Chicago Street Race#NASCAR | #Xfinity | #TheLoop110 | #RoadRanger (📸- @XfinityRacing) pic.twitter.com/Vi2BIr0D4S”
—Washington Sports, Sports Media
The race was punctuated by tense moments, especially during van Gisbergen’s comeback drive after a pit stop error in Stage 1 shuffled him into the rear of the field. Showing skill and persistence, he led for over half the race, outlasting overtaking attempts and surviving restarts to secure victory. The event’s intensity reached its peak with a celebratory post-race burnout, which led to concerns about safety on the busy circuit.
“One of these days, one of these cameramen sitting in the middle of a hot track during post-race burnouts is going to get hit, and this process will change forever. Until then, we’ll have these kinda close calls. pic.twitter.com/5fJ1ooTOXY”
—Toby Christie, Journalist
Challengers and Heartbreaks on Chicago Streets
After the checkered flag, Connor Zilisch regrouped after his late-race brush with the barrier and emotional defeat. The rookie, undeterred, looked to bounce back quickly, highlighting the weight of late-race disappointments in motorsport. Meanwhile, the points standings saw updates as regular season contenders aim for playoff eligibility in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, keeping pressure high as the season heads into its final stretch.
What This Chicago Victory Means Moving Forward
Shane van Gisbergen’s latest accomplishment at The Loop 110 cements his growing reputation as a force in both American and international street racing, despite battling exhaustion and equipment failure. For drivers like Sheldon Creed and William Sawalich, the race underlined both the challenge of the Chicago course and the unpredictability of the current NASCAR Xfinity Series season. As excitement builds for upcoming events, all eyes are on van Gisbergen’s pursuit of even more racing history in the months ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the best choice by leaving Supercars to focus on racing in NASCAR. This is his first full season in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing, following 15 years in Supercars.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. I’m stepping away from V8 Supercars for personal reasons that I’d rather not talk about publicly. I plan to move back to New Zealand and currently have no specific future plans.
