In a dramatic finish to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110, Shane van Gisbergen emerged victorious over 18-year-old Connor Zilisch in a two-lap sprint that brought the downtown streets of Chicago to life. The race, held on the temporary 2.2-mile, 12-turn circuit, marked van Gisbergen’s first Xfinity Series win of the 2025 season and his second consecutive victory on the Chicago Street Course.
Van Gisbergen, who also claimed pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, overcame intense heat, a failed cool suit, and an unconventional race strategy to hold off his JR Motorsports teammate Zilisch by 0.823 seconds.
Late-Race Drama Seals SVG’s Victory
With just two laps remaining following a late-race caution triggered by Andre Castro’s crash in Turn 6, the race came down to a final duel between van Gisbergen and Zilisch. The 36-year-old New Zealander made a bold move into Turn 1, out-braking Zilisch and using the inside line to his advantage.
“The car was a rocket,” van Gisbergen said after the race. “(Zilisch) is a great young driver, and that was the first time I’ve really raced him. I knew that was my opportunity, and I took it.”
Van Gisbergen led 27 of the 50 laps and overcame a shaky moment earlier in the event when he stayed out under caution while most of the field pitted before the end of Stage 1. The decision dropped him to 19th, but fresher tires during the final restart proved crucial in the race’s deciding moments.
The win marked van Gisbergen’s fourth career Xfinity victory, and he became the sixth different winner for JR Motorsports in 2025—setting a new single-season record for the team.
Connor Zilisch Impressive in Runner-Up Effort
Despite falling just short of his first career win, Connor Zilisch delivered one of the most impressive performances of the season. After crashing during practice and starting 35th, Zilisch worked his way through the field and led 11 laps before being passed in the final laps by his more experienced teammate.
“I was clear there, just barely, on the front straight, and I just let him get to my inside,” Zilisch said. “I should have been a little more aggressive there. I’ve just got to be better and not let that stuff happen. I’ll learn from it and move on.”
Zilisch’s maturity and poise after the race reflected a driver who is quickly becoming a rising star in the sport.
Strong Runs from Creed, Hill, Sanchez Round Out Top Five
Sheldon Creed brought his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet home in third after briefly leading the race with 13 laps remaining. However, he admitted he didn’t have the pace to hold off the two JR Motorsports cars.
“I’ve got to get better at road-course racing,” Creed said. “When SVG got to me, I just let him go because he had way more pace.”
Austin Hill and Nick Sanchez, both contenders in the Xfinity Series standings, completed the top five. Jesse Love, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer, Austin Green, and Brennan Poole rounded out the top 10.
Notable Finishers and Inspection Notes
Justin Allgaier, the series points leader entering the weekend, suffered brake issues late in the race and finished 23rd. However, he maintains a 49-point lead over second-place Hill in the standings. Post-race inspection concluded without issue, confirming van Gisbergen as the official winner.
Among other notable finishers:
Harrison Burton took 13th in his return to Xfinity competition.
Preston Pardus, who led Group A in qualifying, finished 29th.
William Sawalich and Ryan Sieg both retired early due to mechanical issues.
Key Race Statistics
Laps Led: van Gisbergen (27), Zilisch (11), Creed (9)
Fastest Lap: van Gisbergen (90.947 seconds)
Cautions: 6
Lead Changes: 5 among 4 drivers
Full Results: The Loop 110 – Chicago Street Course
| Pos | # | Driver |
| 1 | 9 | Shane Van Gisbergen |
| 2 | 88 | Connor Zilisch |
| 3 | 0 | Sheldon Creed |
| 4 | 21 | Austin Hill |
| 5 | 48 | Nick Sanchez |
| 6 | 2 | Jesse Love |
| 7 | 8 | Sammy Smith |
| 8 | 41 | Sam Mayer |
| 9 | 32 | Austin Green |
| 10 | 44 | Brennan Poole |
| 11 | 11 | Josh Williams |
| 12 | 7 | Alex Labbe |
| 13 | 25 | Harrison Burton |
| 14 | 26 | Dean Thompson |
| 15 | 16 | Christian Eckes |
| 16 | 1 | Carson Kvapil |
| 17 | 70 | Thomas Annunziata |
| 18 | 31 | Blaine Perkins |
| 19 | 10 | Daniel Dye |
| 20 | 28 | Kyle Sieg |
| 21 | 20 | Brandon Jones |
| 22 | 24 | Kaz Grala |
| 23 | 7 | Justin Allgaier |
| 24 | 4 | Parker Retzlaff |
| 25 | 71 | Ryan Ellis |
| 26 | 14 | Connor Mosack |
| 27 | 27 | Jeb Burton |
| 28 | 99 | |
| 29 | 50 | Preston Pardus |
| 30 | 45 | Brad Perez |
| 31 | 51 | Jeremy Clements |
| 32 | 19 | Jack Perkins |
| 33 | 35 | Andre Castro |
| 34 | 54 | Taylor Gray |
| 35 | 91 | Josh Bilicki |
| 36 | 42 | Anthony Alfredo |
| 37 | 18 | William Sawalich |
| 38 | 39 | Ryan Sieg |
News In Brief: Full Results from 2025 The Loop 110
Shane van Gisbergen continues to assert himself as a dominant force in NASCAR’s road and street racing scene. Saturday’s victory in The Loop 110 was not only a testament to his skill behind the wheel, but also a display of strategic patience and resilience in tough conditions. Meanwhile, the emergence of young talents like Connor Zilisch ensures that the future of NASCAR’s Xfinity Series remains bright. As the series heads to Sonoma, the storylines only get deeper—and so does the competition.
ALSO READ: Shane van Gisbergen conquers heat, rivals in dramatic NASCAR Chicago victory at The Loop 110
