Sonoma Xfinity results: Connor Zilisch holds off Shane van Gisbergen for win
It marked the second race in a row the two finished first and second but last weekend at Chicago it was van Gisbergen defeating Zilisch.
MORE: Xfinity results
Saturday, Zilisch withstood van Gisbergen's pressure on the final lap around the 1.99-mile road course to collect his third series victory of the season and fourth of his career.
Zilisch's victory gave JR Motorsports its series-best 10th win of the year and 98th in the series. It also was the team's fourth 1-2 finish of the season. JR Motorsports has won the past six Xfinity road course races, the longest streak by a team in series history. All five JR Motorsports cars finished in the top 10.
Zilisch, who turns 19 on July 22, and van Gisbergen combined to lead 70 of the race's 79 laps Saturday.
William Sawalich was third, Nick Sanchez finished fourth and Riley Herbst was fifth.
Five rookies finished in the top 10, the most in series history on a road course. Those five rookies were: Zilisch (first), Sawalich (third), Sanchez (fourth), Taylor Gray (seventh) and Carson Kvapil (eighth).
Stage 1 winner: Sam Mayer
Stage 2 winner: Brandon Jones
Next: The series races at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, July 19 at Dover.
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Sonoma Xfinity results: Connor Zilisch holds off Shane van Gisbergen for win
Connor Zilisch held off Shane van Gisbergen over the final laps to win Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Sonoma Raceway. It marked the second race in a row the two finished first and second but last weekend at Chicago it was van Gisbergen defeating Zilisch. MORE: Xfinity results Saturday, Zilisch withstood van Gisbergen's pressure on the final lap around the 1.99-mile road course to collect his third series victory of the season and fourth of his career. Zilisch's victory gave JR Motorsports its series-best 10th win of the year and 98th in the series. It also was the team's fourth 1-2 finish of the season. JR Motorsports has won the past six Xfinity road course races, the longest streak by a team in series history. All five JR Motorsports cars finished in the top 10. Zilisch, who turns 19 on July 22, and van Gisbergen combined to lead 70 of the race's 79 laps Saturday. William Sawalich was third, Nick Sanchez finished fourth and Riley Herbst was fifth. Five rookies finished in the top 10, the most in series history on a road course. Those five rookies were: Zilisch (first), Sawalich (third), Sanchez (fourth), Taylor Gray (seventh) and Carson Kvapil (eighth). Stage 1 winner: Sam Mayer Stage 2 winner: Brandon Jones Next: The series races at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, July 19 at Dover.
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Connor Zilisch Gets His Revenge on SVG in Stellar Battle for the Win at Sonoma
Last week, Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen battled on the final restart of The Loop 110, with van Gisbergen getting the upper hand over his teammate, with less to lose on the way to a win. Zilisch, deep in the championship points battle, is more likely to take a second-place finish over a wrecked race car, while van Gisbergen's win at Chicago matters less. Zilisch learned on that restart how his teammate would race him and vowed to learn from it, saying Sonoma would be a different story. "I look forward to racing him again at Sonoma," Zilisch said. It was, as Zilisch started on the front row next to van Gisbergen, and the two battled throughout the race. Zilisch led 45 laps to van Gisbergen's 24. Due to yellows and pit strategies, neither of the two JR. Motorsports drivers won a stage, with Sam Mayer and Brandon Jones taking the stage victories. Zilisch had to battle for his win with last year's race winner, who just swept on the road course last week, breathing down his neck, with memories of his Chicago race loss still fresh on his mind. It wasn't dirty; we were racing for the lead on the last restart, and I just didn't expect it to race me that hard," Zilisch said in his post-race presser about Chicago. "Hats off to Shane, I feel like all race long we battled each other cleanly," Zilisch said following his Sonoma win. He raced me clean, I respect the hell out of him for that." With eight laps to go, van Gisbergen was within striking distance but couldn't make the move on Zilisch. With three laps to go, Corey Day was sent off the track but recovered to keep the track green—contact between the two with two laps to go. The two battled hard on the penultimate lap with Zilisch building his first sizable gap ahead of van Gisbergen at the white flag. Zilisch was better in turn 11, the last place that van Gisbergen had a passing opportunity. The race ended without a single caution for contact, proof that while the leaders battled each other toughly but cleanly, so did the rest of the field. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
