Connor Zilisch Wins at Sonoma; Out Duels Shane van Gisbergen

Connor Zilisch celebrating in Victory Lane after scoring his third victory of the 2025 season. (Photo: Aaron Brink | The Podium Finish)

SONOMA, Calif. — Connor Zilisch outdueled Shane van Gisbergen to win the Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway in what was a thrilling battle between the two drivers for the entirety of the race, but especially the final stage.

The two short-pitted Stage 2, with Zilisch leading and van Gisbergen in second place, to maintain their track position at the start of the final stage. Once Zilisch retook the lead during the caution period between the stages, he never gave it up, but SVG made it tough on the rookie, nearly stealing the win in the final laps.

“Hats off to Shane (van Gisbergen), that was awesome,” Zilisch said. “All race long, I felt like we were racing each other with respect. It was awesome to finally race against him and battle him for the whole race. We did such an awesome job all weekend long.”

Connor Zilisch is burning it down after winning at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)

During the final run of the race, Zilisch showed great poise and execution while under pressure from van Gisbergen, who is arguably one of the best road course racers the sport has ever seen, while trying to save fuel to make it to the checkered flag at the same time.

“It’s always the hardest trying to save fuel while someone’s breathing down your neck,” said Zilisch. “There was a chance he could have gotten by me when he hit me, and he let me have it and raced me clean. I respect the hell out of him for that, and I’m looking forward to racing against him more.”

The win was Zilisch’s third of the season thus far and the fourth of his young NASCAR Xfinity Series career. In total, today he and van Gisbergen combined to lead 70 of the 79 laps.

Connor Zilisch on top of his No. 88 car after winning the Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Aaron Brink | The Podium Finish)

After the hard-fought battle, van Gisbergen crossed the start/finish line in a close second place. After getting into Zilisch in Turn 7, SVG thought he had an opportunity to take the lead, but didn’t want to win the race like that, so he kept battling with Zilisch until the checkered flag waved.

“Yeah, but I didn’t want to be,” van Gisbergen said on whether he could’ve raced Zilisch more aggressively. “Congrats to those guys (the No. 88 team), what an awesome race. I gave him (Zilisch) a bump into (Turn) 7, wheel-hopped and probably could’ve taken it. But I just waited and I didn’t want to do it like that, and then we raced down the hill, but what an awesome race.”

Shane van Gisbergen congratulates Connor Zilisch after battling throughout the entirety of the Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Cornnell Chu | The Podium Finish)

Behind their battle, finishing in third was William Sawalich, which is a career-best finish amid what has been a difficult year for the No. 18 team. Fellow rookie Nick Sanchez finished in fourth, and Riley Herbst scored a fifth-place finish.

Rounding out the top 10 were Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith and Sheldon Creed.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series returns next week at Dover Motor Speedway for the BetRivers 200 on Saturday, July 19 at 4:30 p.m. EST on The CW, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Sam Mayer
2. Brandon Jones
3. Carson Kvapil
4. Sammy Smith
5. Sheldon Creed
6. Anthony Alfredo
7. Alex Labbe
8. Blaine Perkins
9. Connor Zilisch
10. Ryan Sieg

Stage 2 Top Results

1. Brandon Jones
2. Justin Allgaier
3. Sammy Smith
4. Sheldon Creed
5. Carson Kvapil
6. Blaine Perkins
7. Connor Zilisch
8. Jeb Burton
9. Will Rodgers
10. Ryan Sieg

Pit Boss/Food Maxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway Finishing Results