As the checkered flag waved over wine country, the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway gave fans exactly what they came for—and then some. In a race packed with clean battles, emotional letdowns, and strong fan opinions, Connor Zilisch triumphed over Shane van Gisbergen in a fierce late-race duel that had social media ablaze.
Key Highlights
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Connor Zilisch scored his fourth career Xfinity Series win after a close battle with SVG
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Shane van Gisbergen finished second, just 0.438 seconds behind
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Fans praised the quality of racing and criticized ongoing anti-SVG sentiment
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Debate emerged over a rumored Kyle Busch/SVG confrontation
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The No. 25 team lost crucial playoff points after a late spin from the top 10
Connor Zilisch Holds Off SVG in Masterclass Finish
Connor Zilisch outdueled Shane van Gisbergen in a clean but relentless fight to win Saturday’s race at Sonoma, finishing just 0.438 seconds ahead. The pair traded momentum and pressure for several laps as the crowd watched one of the most composed and competitive road course finales in recent memory.
“The whole race was phenomenal.But the ending was pure cinema!” – NASCAR fan
Zilisch’s fourth career win came not only against the sport’s current road course king but also as a testament to his maturing racecraft. Another fan noted:
“What I’m most happy about is how clean of a weekend Zilisch had. Cause let’s be real, he’s made a lot of mistakes in his young NASCAR career. But today felt like a massive step in the right direction.” – NASCAR fan
Fanbase Claps Back at SVG Critics
While SVG didn’t take the win, he earned deep praise from fans for both his performance and the way he carried himself. But controversy emerged from the garage area. Several fans pointed to a rumored moment from the pre-race drivers’ meeting involving Kyle Busch.
“So apparently Kyle Busch had a go at SVG at the drivers briefing about his move on Conor at Chicago last week.” – NASCAR fan
“Apparently it’s ok for other drivers to run people over and knock them out of the way, but when SVG does a classic road racing move… he’s dirty? That’s crazy.” – NASCAR fan
Fan support for SVG’s aggressive-yet-clean driving was unwavering. “Don’t worry he won’t [change],” one user wrote.
“He’s not one to cause drama with sh*t he says but there’s no way he’ll change his racing style. He’s ignored direct team orders in order to win before.”- NASCAR fan
Others were more blunt:
“Maybe Kyle can teach SVG how to spin out in practice.” – NASCAR fan
The divide remains sharp between traditionalists wary of SVG’s global flair and those who see him as a breath of fresh air. One post summed it up:
“Don’t know how people can already act ‘tired’ of SVG. Dude is incredibly amazing at what he does… his personality and perpetual good attitude is absolutely infectious.” – NASCAR fan
Heartbreaks and Highlights Across the Field
The race wasn’t just about the front runners. The No. 25 team suffered a crushing setback after a spin in turn 11 dropped them from a top-10 run to a P21 finish.
“Heartbreaking for the 25 team,” one fan noted. “They were running in the top 10 before being spun in turn 11 and sent back to finish P21. Being this close to the cut line, those are valuable points.”
William Sawalich quietly brought home third, 13.6 seconds back, while Nick Sanchez and Riley Herbst rounded out the top five. Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, and Sheldon Creed made up the rest of the top 10 in a race that stayed remarkably green.
Full Race Results: 2025 Xfinity Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma
| POS. | Driver | Laps | Diff | Status |
| 1 | Connor Zilisch | 79 | — | Running |
| 2 | Shane Van Gisbergen | 79 | 0.438 | Running |
| 3 | William Sawalich | 79 | 13.668 | Running |
| 4 | Nick Sanchez | 79 | 17.455 | Running |
| 5 | Riley Herbst | 79 | 19.082 | Running |
| 6 | Justin Allgaier | 79 | 22.256 | Running |
| 7 | Taylor Gray | 79 | 22.594 | Running |
| 8 | Carson Kvapil | 79 | 30.395 | Running |
| 9 | Sammy Smith | 79 | 32.242 | Running |
| 10 | Sheldon Creed | 79 | 35.169 | Running |
| 11 | Austin Green | 79 | 37.721 | Running |
| 12 | Austin Hill | 79 | 38.623 | Running |
| 13 | Brandon Jones | 79 | 39.665 | Running |
| 14 | Josh Bilicki | 79 | 42.558 | Running |
| 15 | Josh Williams | 79 | 43.263 | Running |
| 16 | Will Rodgers | 79 | 45.806 | Running |
| 17 | Sam Mayer | 79 | 46.52 | Running |
| 18 | Dean Thompson | 79 | 48.344 | Running |
| 19 | Blaine Perkins | 79 | 49.973 | Running |
| 20 | Jeb Burton | 79 | 50.595 | Running |
| 21 | Harrison Burton | 79 | 52.031 | Running |
| 22 | Brennan Poole | 79 | 52.221 | Running |
| 23 | Anthony Alfredo | 79 | 54.389 | Running |
| 24 | Corey Day | 79 | 58.104 | Running |
| 25 | Kyle Sieg | 79 | 61.811 | Running |
| 26 | Matt DiBenedetto | 79 | 63.53 | Running |
| 27 | Ryan Ellis | 79 | 72.988 | Running |
| 28 | Parker Retzlaff | 79 | 74.109 | Running |
| 29 | Kris Wright | 79 | 76.51 | Running |
| 30 | Jeremy Clements | 78 | 1 lap | Running |
| 31 | Brad Perez | 78 | 1 lap | Running |
| 32 | Daniel Dye | 78 | 1 lap | Running |
| 33 | Connor Mosack | 77 | 2 laps | Running |
| 34 | Christian Eckes | 76 | 3 laps | Running |
| 35 | Ryan Sieg | 76 | 3 laps | Running |
| 36 | Sage Karam | 40 | 39 laps | Out |
| 37 | Alex Labbe | 36 | 43 laps | Out |
| 38 | Jesse Love | 11 | 68 laps | Out |
News in Brief: Fans Reaction to NASCAR 2025 Xfinity Race at Sonoma
Connor Zilisch defeated Shane van Gisbergen in a respectful yet thrilling final-lap fight to win at Sonoma. While Zilisch celebrated, fans took to social media to support SVG amid growing criticism. Debates over racing etiquette and international talent filled NASCAR circles. Meanwhile, the 25 team’s playoff hopes took a hit, and the field saw a rare caution-free run on one of NASCAR’s trickiest road courses.
ALSO READ: Connor Zilisch responds to SVG rivalry with bold four-word message after Sonoma qualifying showdown
