Connor Zilisch wins NASCAR Xfinity Sonoma in epic battle with SVG

Shane van Gisbergen gave it all the things he had, however Connor Zilisch was capable of hold onto the lead and take the win in an exhilarating end to Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race at Sonoma Raceway.

Regardless of successful pole place for each races this weekend, van Gisbergen is not going to declare one other weekend sweep at Sonoma. It was a race-long battle between the JR Motorsports teammates, who completed 1-2 only one week in the past on the Chicago Road Course. SVG began from pole, however he and Zilisch traded the lead a number of instances all through the race. 

Through the remaining run each frontrunners needed to fear about saving gasoline, whereas additionally battling one another — with the pair lapping at a niche of lower than 1 second. Because the laps ticked away, van Gisbergen acquired progressively extra aggressive, placing the bumper to Zilisch with lower than two laps to go. There have been some extra bumps all through the ultimate lap as SVG tried to get alongside.

As they raced down into the ultimate hairpin, SVG threw it to the skin, and so they went side-by-side, however Zilisch was capable of clear him on the exit of the ultimate nook. The pair completed greater than 13 seconds away from third.

Respect between rivals

“First, hats off to Shane,” stated Zilisch, who now has 4 profession wins. “That was superior. All race lengthy, I felt like we have been racing one another with respect. I wheel-hopped into (Flip) 7 that one time and acquired into him. Apart from that, it was superior to get to race towards him lastly and battle him the entire race lengthy.”

He additionally talked concerning the stability between fuel-saving and heading off the most effective highway racers in NASCAR, including: “It is all the time the toughest, attempting to avoid wasting gasoline whereas somebody is respiration down your neck. There was an opportunity. He may have gotten by me when he hit me, and he let me have it and raced me clear. I respect the hell out of him for that, and I am trying ahead to racing towards him extra.”

Watch: SVG on runner-up end: ‘What a race … I had a blast’

SVG was all smiles regardless of the loss, praising Zilisch for an unbelievable race.

“Congrats to these guys,” stated van Gisbergen. “What an superior race. I hope everybody loved that. I gave him a stumble upon (Flip) 7 and possibly may have taken it, however I simply waited. I did not wish to do it like that after which we raced down the hill. What an superior race … I had a blast all day. Actually, actually enjoyable.”

The Xfinity race at Sonoma was surprisingly clear, with zero cautions for on-track incidents. There have been some spins and numerous types of contact, however nothing that required a full-course yellow.