In one of the most dramatic NASCAR Xfinity Series races of the season, Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) once again proved why he’s the king of the concrete jungle. The New Zealander took the win on the streets of Chicago after a fierce battle with rising star Connor Zilisch and a determined Sheldon Creed. With crashes, bold passes, and a flurry of restarts, Saturday’s event delivered all the street course chaos fans hoped for—and more.
Let’s take a closer look at the key moments that defined the action-packed race.
Shane Van Gisbergen Starts Strong and Controls Early Action
From the drop of the green flag, SVG was on the move. Launching well off the front row, he quickly held off an outside challenge from Austin Hill and set the pace through the early laps. As restarts piled up due to multiple cautions, van Gisbergen used his experience to get aggressive at the right moments—most notably muscling Sheldon Creed toward the outside wall through turn one to protect the lead.
While several drivers struggled with grip on the still-dirty street surface, SVG found a rhythm, cleanly navigating the tight corners and treacherous braking zones. By lap five, he had built a small gap on the field while others fought for position behind him.
Sheldon Creed and Jesse Love Bring the Fight
Sheldon Creed was not content to ride behind van Gisbergen. Early on, Creed showed speed and made multiple attempts to get alongside the No. 97, including a bold crossover into turn seven. He briefly grabbed the lead during stage two, using track position on a restart to take advantage and earn the stage win.
Teammate Jesse Love also factored into the front-running battle, running aggressively through restarts and nearly colliding with Creed in the final corner of stage two. Love’s elbows-out approach showed just how much was on the line as drivers fought for every inch of real estate in the tight Chicago layout.
Connor Zilisch’s Rise from the Back
One of the most compelling storylines of the race belonged to 18-year-old Connor Zilisch. After starting 35th, the Trackhouse development driver methodically worked his way through the field. He broke into the top ten by the end of stage one and then used a longer pit stop to fine-tune his car’s handling for the final push.
Zilisch made pass after pass in tight quarters, often out-braking his competition into turn one or pulling daring moves around the fountain section. Late in the race, he dove inside both Jesse Love and Austin Hill to move into second place, setting up a showdown with SVG for the win. His climb from last to a lead-contending position earned widespread praise and proved he’s more than capable of competing with the series’ best on a road course.
Chaos and Contact: Street Course Challenges Deliver
Chicago’s street course once again lived up to its reputation. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile temporary circuit saw multiple drivers fall victim to narrow braking zones and slick off-line surfaces. Brad Perez, Jack Perkins, Parker Retzlaff, and Connor Mosack all found the wall at various points in the race, while Ryan Sieg’s mechanical issues and William Sawalich’s mid-race incident added to the attrition.
Turn four was especially troublesome, with heavy braking leading to multiple lockups and wheel hop—a common issue for drivers not used to the unforgiving surface. Even experienced road racers struggled to stay in line, and every restart brought new drama, with cars going three-wide into corners barely wide enough for two.
Despite the chaos, most of the field kept the action clean, and several drivers—including Sam Mayer, Justin Allgaier, and Jeb Burton—put together strong, points-earning runs.
Final Restart Decides It All
With the laps winding down and Zilisch running second, a late caution bunched the field for one final shootout. On the restart, SVG started on the inside and used his track position to muscle Zilisch toward the wall in turn one, retaking the lead in a gutsy move. Zilisch’s car glanced the wall and lost momentum, while van Gisbergen powered ahead.
The young challenger had one last shot in turn 12 but couldn’t get close enough to make a move. Van Gisbergen crossed the line first, capturing his second straight win at the Chicago Street Course and giving Kaulig Racing another impressive road course trophy. The win marked the 97th for Junior Motorsports in Xfinity competition.
News in Brief: 5 Biggest Highlights 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Race in Chicago
Saturday’s race in downtown Chicago offered a little bit of everything—strategy, raw speed, aggressive passing, and edge-of-your-seat drama. Shane van Gisbergen again showed his mastery of street circuits, but he was pushed harder than ever by a hungry field. Connor Zilisch’s breakout drive, Sheldon Creed’s fearless challenges, and Jesse Love’s gritty presence proved the next generation is more than ready to scrap with the veterans.
With this win, SVG continues building his stateside legacy. But as the Xfinity Series heads into its next stretch, the young stars are rising fast—and it’s only a matter of time before one of them finishes what they started.
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