Shane van Gisbergen has once again cemented his status as a favorite, securing pole position in the latest Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race lineup for The Loop 110 on Saturday. The talented driver set an impressive pace on the downtown Chicago street circuit, underlining his reputation as a top contender heading into race day.
Van Gisbergen, who made headlines last year by winning the inaugural Cup Series event amidst rainy conditions and also clinching the Xfinity Series race from pole, continued his strong form at this historic venue. On Saturday, the three-time Supercars champion notched his second consecutive Xfinity Series pole at this track, clocking a lap of 90.085 seconds on the 12-turn, 2.14-mile course, narrowly outpacing Austin Hill by 0.2 seconds.
Van Gisbergen Sets the Pace and Odds
Throughout the weekend’s qualifying and practice sessions, van Gisbergen established himself as the driver to watch. Only nine other competitors managed lap times within one second of van Gisbergen’s top mark, underscoring the margin of his advantage. His recent performances made him the top pick for the race according to FanDuel Sportsbook, with odds at -115 to win The Loop 110 and +215 for Sunday’s Grant Park 165 Cup Series event, highlighting industry recognition of his status as a street course specialist.
Meanwhile, rookie Connor Zilisch impressed by posting the second-fastest practice time and earning strong odds for the race. However, mechanical troubles during qualifying on the No. 88 Chevrolet forced him into a backup car, meaning he will start from 35th position despite the earlier promise. The field also saw Kris Wright and Sage Karam miss the cut, leaving them out of Saturday’s main event lineup.
Complete Starting Grid for The Loop 110
The official Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race lineup for Saturday’s event is as follows:
1. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 9 Chevrolet
2. Austin Hill, No. 21 Chevrolet
3. Sam Mayer, No. 41 Ford
4. Sheldon Creed, No. 00 Ford
5. Jack Perkins, No. 19 Toyota
6. Justin Allgaier, No. 7 Chevrolet
7. William Sawalich, No. 18 Toyota
8. Nick Sanchez, No. 48 Chevrolet
9. Jesse Love, No. 2 Chevrolet
10. Sammy Smith, No. 8 Chevrolet
11. Brandon Jones, No. 20 Toyota
12. Preston Pardus, No. 50 Chevrolet
13. Carson Kvapil, No. 1 Chevrolet
14. Alex Labbe, No. 07 Ford
15. Harrison Burton, No. 25 Ford
16. Connor Mosack, No. 14 Chevrolet
17. Austin Green, No. 32 Chevrolet
18. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 99 Chevrolet
19. Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Chevrolet
20. Thomas Annunziata, No. 70 Chevrolet
21. Daniel Dye, No. 10 Chevrolet
22. Brennan Poole, No. 44 Chevrolet
23. Blaine Perkins, No. 31 Chevrolet
24. Parker Retzlaff, No. 4 Chevrolet
25. Josh Bilicki, No. 91 Chevrolet
26. Brad Perez, No. 45 Chevrolet
27. Josh Williams, No. 11 Chevrolet
28. Anthony Alfredo, No. 42 Chevrolet
29. Andre Castro, No. 35 Chevrolet
30. Kaz Grala, No. 24 Toyota
31. Jeb Burton, No. 27 Chevrolet
32. Ryan Ellis, No. 71 Chevrolet
33. Dean Thompson, No. 26 Toyota
34. Kyle Sieg, No. 28 Ford
35. Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Chevrolet
36. Taylor Gray, No. 54 Toyota
37. Ryan Sieg, No. 39 Ford
38. Christian Eckes, No. 16 Chevrolet
Key Drivers and Storylines to Watch
Alongside van Gisbergen, other notable contenders include Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, and Jack Perkins, each representing a mix of Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota teams. Established names like Justin Allgaier, William Sawalich, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, and Brandon Jones are set to provide further competition, while rookies and rising talents such as Carson Kvapil and Austin Green will look to make their mark from the mid-pack.
The lineup also features drivers such as Matt DiBenedetto, Thomas Annunziata, and Preston Pardus. Notably, competitors Harrison Burton and Connor Mosack return to the grid aiming to improve their form after recent events. The absence of Kris Wright and Sage Karam following the qualifying rounds signals just how competitive this year’s field has become.
What This Means for Saturday’s Race
With Shane van Gisbergen leading the field and a mix of seasoned veterans and ambitious newcomers filling the Xfinity Series Chicago Street Race lineup, expectations are high for an intense and entertaining Loop 110. The combination of unpredictable street course racing and high-stakes championship points ensures that fans can anticipate dramatic moments as the action unfolds in downtown Chicago, setting the stage for a memorable motorsport event.
