At the Misson 300 held at Watkins Glen, Shane van Gisbergen suffered a dramatic exit after a collision with Connor Zilisch, marking a major turning point in the Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Xfinity crash saga. This clash, escalating intense emotions and uncertainty, came while both drivers competed fiercely at the front of the NASCAR Xfinity Series field late in the race.
Fierce Rivalry Culminates in Collision
Throughout the season, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch have frequently found themselves in close competition at road courses, each notching a win against the other earlier in the year. Their rivalry peaked with just 16 laps remaining at Watkins Glen, as van Gisbergen led his JR Motorsports teammate through the opening of stage two and held the top spot amidst mounting pressure from Zilisch.
With 16 laps to go, the drama intensified. Entering turn six, Zilisch pulled alongside van Gisbergen’s No. 9 car in an effort to claim the lead. Zilisch went wide during the attempt and, while trying to rejoin the track, struck van Gisbergen’s rear right side. This contact sent van Gisbergen hard into the barriers, causing enough damage to force his retirement from the race.
Aftermath of the Incident on Track and Over the Radio
Following the collision, Zilisch’s car displayed damage, with visible scuffs across his nose and left side. Grappling with the immediate aftermath, Zilisch turned to his spotter over the radio, trying to process the incident.
“I just don’t know where I could’ve gone,”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
“He didn’t leave me any room to rejoin.”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
The tension remained high as Zilisch sought honesty from his team, referencing a previous incident in Iowa, and pressing for candid feedback on whether he was responsible for wrecking his teammate. His spotter responded with reassurance, clarifying the situation during the heat of the moment.
“You’ve got to shake it off and win this race, worry about it later,”
—Josh Williams, Spotter
“Don’t lie to me if I f***ing wrecked him either like you did at Iowa, if I wrecked him, tell me,”
—Connor Zilisch, Driver
“I’m not lying to you, you had one lane to get back on the track,”
—Josh Williams, Spotter
As for van Gisbergen, he declined to assign blame before having the chance to review the footage but made his disappointment for the team clear. He expressed how the unfortunate ending overshadowed the strong position JR Motorsports had worked to secure.
“Pretty gutted actually. Gutted for the JR Motorsports team. Our car wasn’t great, but we still went and managed to get ourselves in a good position.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Zilisch’s Race Continues as Chaos Unfolds
Despite the damage from the collision, Zilisch rejoined the race in fifth position on the restart and quickly moved back into the lead. The event’s intensity escalated again just nine laps from the finish, when a significant crash involving Michael McDowell led to a red flag stoppage as cleanup crews responded.
Significance and What Follows This Rivalry
The clash at Watkins Glen will likely continue to fuel the growing rivalry between Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. With both drivers racing for JR Motorsports, the incident impacts not only their championship ambitions but also the dynamic within their team. As tensions remain high and emotions raw, the fallout from Watkins Glen could play a significant role as the season progresses, with both van Gisbergen and Zilisch looking to cement their legacies on the road courses and beyond.
