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Shane van Gisbergen outduels Connor Zilisch on late restart to win Xfinity Chicago Street Race

JHby: Jonathan Howard07/05/25Jondean25
Shane van Gisbergen Chicago win
Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

What a finish to the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. Shane van Gisbergen wins the Chicago Street Race over Connor Zilisch. This is the second year in a row SVG has taken the checkered flag in the Xfinity race at Chicago.

Shane van Gisbergen led for 27 laps, but it was the finish that will be remembered in this race. Everyone wanted to see him go toe-to-toe with Connor Zilisch. The two have matching paint schemes today for the race. They ended up going 1-2 at the finish.

A two-lap dash to the finish was what settled this race. Zilisch had the lead until a late caution changed everything. It was all SVG needed to get his second Xfinity win in Chicago, his third Chicago win overall.

The Windy City is Shane van Gisbergen’s city. Another road course win for the three-time Supercars champion.

Everyone was waiting for the Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbegen moment. The two have been in races together but havne’t really raced each other closely. At least not on a road or street course.

SVG was on pole to start, Zilisch in the rear with a repaired Chevy. It took all day long to get those two next to each other. Credit to the New Zealander for making a strong NASCAR move on the restart going into Turn 1. He used Zilisch up just enough and ran off with the win.

This street course proved difficult for many drivers. Mistakes were made throughout the race. There was a healthy amount of cautions that kep things interesting today in another fantastic Xfinity Series race in Chicago.

Shane van Gisbergen on track to sweep Chicago weekend

Two pole awards and one win? Shane van Gisbergen has already had a successful weekend. Tomorrow, he goes for the Chicago sweep. If he is able to get the win on Sunday in the Cup Series, it would be one of the more impressive performances of the season.

Sheldon Creed was great in this race. He settled for a third-place finish. That team needed a good points day, and they were able to get it today. No point in forcing something and wrecking late racing for a win that you weren’t going to get. Creed has now moved himself back up into playoff contention.

It was a bit disappointing that NASCAR had to hold the caution as long as they did late in this race. Andre Castro’s wreck into the Turn 6 barrier was not an unusual sight for that corner. But it came at such a critical point in the race. Honestly, Zilisch had pushed out to a lead that was likely insurmountable for SVG to make up. Instead, the Kiwi wins on the late restart.

These two are JR Motorsports teammates today. They will likely be full-time teammates on track at Trackhouse Racing next season in the Cup Series. We are going to see them race for the win at these road and street course races many more times.