Connor Zilisch, reflecting on the intense conclusion of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, admitted he would have chosen a different defensive tactic if he had foreseen Shane van Gisbergen’s daring inside move, which defined the Shane van Gisbergen Chicago race at the Chicago Street Course. The 18-year-old was on the brink of victory until van Gisbergen’s aggressive maneuver with just two laps remaining shifted the outcome in the streets of Chicago.
Connor Zilisch dissects his defensive choices in the final laps
As the race approached its climax, Zilisch and van Gisbergen went wheel-to-wheel for the lead on the urban circuit. Entering turn 1, both drivers were side by side, but Zilisch found himself squeezed to the outside, losing his advantage and making slight contact with the barrier when van Gisbergen ran him wide. Despite quick efforts to recover lost ground, Zilisch could not close the gap, ultimately finishing just under a second behind the winner.
In his post-race remarks, Zilisch described the split-second decision-making that determined the outcome. He explained the circumstances leading up to his pivotal defensive error, providing insight into how events unfolded.
“Just before the brake zone I got called to clear and I didn’t take it because I wanted to be on the inside for turn two expecting us to exit turn one, side by side. And you know if I knew that I wouldn’t have exited turn one, side by side and he was going to take it and clear himself, I would have blocked and protected the inside line more,”
he said via X/Bob Pockrass. —Bob Pockrass.
Continuing his reflection, Zilisch acknowledged there were lessons to learn from the encounter and that while the move was assertive, he didn’t view it as crossing a line.
“So yeah. I definitely would have done it differently, knowing what his plan was. But you know that’s racing and you know it wasn’t dirty. It was just aggressive and something I’ll take note of something I’ll take note of,”
he added. —Bob Pockrass.
Zilisch’s runner-up finish was a result of perseverance after a difficult start to the event. An accident in practice left him unable to participate in qualifying, forcing him to start well down the field in 35th. Nevertheless, the #88 driver methodically advanced, eventually racing his way into contention with the frontrunners before narrowly missing the win.
SVG’s perspective and tactical moves during the Chicago race
Shane van Gisbergen’s quest for victory was not without challenge, as mechanical concerns and less-than-ideal strategy choices complicated his second Xfinity Series appearance. The New Zealander, at 36, managed to overcome these setbacks thanks to a well-timed late pit stop for fresh tires, which proved decisive in his late-race duel against his JRM teammate.
Sharing his perspective with CW Sports after the checkered flag, van Gisbergen complimented his young rival and recounted his own critical moment in the contest.
“Yeah, he’s a great young driver… I thought that was my opportunity and took it, and yeah. It was an awesome 1-2 for the team,”
he said [0:51 onwards]. —SVG, Xfinity Series Driver
This strong finish represented Zilisch’s seventh top-five result of the campaign, reinforcing his current fifth-place standing in the season rankings with 571 points and an average finishing position of 11. Looking ahead, another head-to-head challenge between Zilisch and van Gisbergen is on the horizon as they both prepare for the upcoming event at Sonoma Raceway.
What the Chicago faceoff means for the rest of the season
The thrilling duel between Zilisch and van Gisbergen not only underscored both drivers’ tactical acumen and composure, but also set the tone for future battles in the 2024 Xfinity Series. Both members of the JRM team showcased resilience and adaptability under pressure, bringing excitement to fans and intensifying the rivalry heading into critical races at circuits like Sonoma. With Zilisch eager to apply the lessons he learned from the Shane van Gisbergen Chicago race and van Gisbergen riding the confidence of back-to-back strong showings, the championship race promises further drama in the coming weeks.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the correct choice by leaving Supercars to chase a career in NASCAR. This year, he starts his first full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing after racing in Supercars for 15 years.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. I am stepping away from V8 Supercars for personal reasons that I prefer to keep private. I plan to return to New Zealand and currently have no definite future plans.
