CHICAGO — Shane van Gisbergen was up to the challenge Saturday at the Chicago Street Course.
The veteran road racer overcame numerous obstacles to win The Loop 110 NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Despite starting from the pole on the 2.2-mil street circuit, van Gisbergen had a lot to conquer, including 18-year-old JR Motorsports teammate Connor Zilisch en route to his first series win of the season and the fourth of his career.
Failed pit strategy that saw him stay on the track following winning the first stage, forced van Gisbergen, who also struggled with the heat and a malfunctioning cool suit, forced the Kiwi driver to battle from behind.
As a result he had to chase down Zilisch over the second half of the race, which led to him outbraking the 18-year-old driver with two laps remaining.
Van Gisbergen drove away to a .823-second triumph, winning the Chicago Xfinity Series race for the second straight year.
“The strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said van Gisbergen. “The car was a rocket. (Zilisch) is a great young driver, and that was the first time I’ve really raced him. I knew that was my opportunity, and I took it. Awesome 1-2 for the team.”
Van Gisbergen, who was treated for heat exhaustion following the race, was the sixth different driver to win in a JR Motorsports Xfinity Series car this year.
Zilisch said he was surprised by van Gisbergen’s aggressive move to take the lead.
“I was clear there, just barely, on the front straight, and I just let him get to my inside, and he took advantage of it,” said Zilisch. “I should have been a little more aggressive there. I just thought he was going to race me a little cleaner.
“I’ve just got to be better and not let that stuff happen. I’ll learn from it and move on.”
Sheldon Creed finished third for Haas Factory Ford, while Chevrolet drivers Austin Hill and Nick Sanchez completed the top five.
