Shane van Gisbergen gives thumbs-up to Connor Zilisch mid-pass after trading paint at Sonoma

Folks, if you aren’t watching the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Sonoma right now on The CW, then you need to start. Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch are putting on a show like no other. Even with a bit of good sportsmanship.

Trackhouse Racing has a great future on road courses with these two drivers on the roster. Today, they are putting on a clinic in road course racing that is hard for anyone else in the field to keep up with.

Shane van Gisbergen got a little cheeky as he got alongside Connor Zilisch coming out of Turn 11. The Kiwi gave his young teammate a thumbs-up after Zilisch led for a number of laps to begin Stage 2.

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Was this a genuine thumbs-up? Was it a fun little taunt from the elder driver to his younger teammate? Before the end of Stage 2, Shane van Gisbergen let Connor Zilisch get by him at one point. SVG complained about his rear tires being burned off after his team made adjustments at the end of Stage 1.

It is clear that SVG and Zilisch are the top of the class today at Sonoma. Which driver will have the car that can get the job done and win this race? Rear tire grip will be a necessity for these drivers, and we could even see fuel come into play as a factor.

Last year at this race, SVG gave a different gesture to Austin Hill after their physical battle on the track. As he drifted around the track in celebration, he had to remind Hill who was the best road course racer in the series.

So, all things considered, a better gesture from Shane van Gisbergen to Connor Zilisch than he had for Austin Hill a year ago.

Shane van Gisbergen having rear grip issues

While Shane van Gisbergen has had an edge over Connor Zilisch, it’s not much. When the two drivers are racing around the track, it is just a matter of a fraction of a second that separates the two.

Seeing SVG give up a position on the track is very interesting. That is not something we see him do very often on these road courses. However, he was fending off a hard-charging 88 car with Zilisch behind the wheel, and figured he’d give a little so he could take in the final stage.

Between Stage 1 and 2, Zilisch’s team got him out in front of SVG. The two drivers went at it until van Gisbergen finally got around Zilisch again. Then he gave the lead up again. So, who has made the best adjustments, and who is going to get the edge as this race comes to the end?

Shane van Gisbergen will try to sweep the Sonoma weekend just like he did at Chicago. A lot of action still left in this race.