Shane van Gisbergen’s hopes of another NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen were dashed when contact from his JR Motorsports teammate Connor Zilisch sent him into the wall. Van Gisbergen was leading the race with 18 laps to go when Zilisch in the #88 Chevrolet Camaro went around the outside of the #9 at the penultimate turn. Zilisch ran wide and upon returning to the traditional racing line, the left front of his car clipped the right rear of van Gisbergen’s and sent him spinning. The Kubota-backed car made heavy contact with the outside SAFER barrier and ended his day early. “I’m okay. Car’s not,” van Gisbergen radioed. “Not ideal. I’m pretty gutted really,” said van Gisbergen after being released from the infield care centre. “Gutted for the JR Motorsports guys. Our car wasn’t great, but we still managed to get ourselves in a good position. “Looked great. Kubota had some cool guests here. But yeah, pretty average way to end it. “I haven’t seen it yet. I’ll watch it later and work it out, but I don’t know yet.” Prior to the crash, van Gisbergen had been playing defence. The Kiwi had been struggling with an overall lack […]
Shane van Gisbergen has delivered a master performance in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs race at Kansas. Despite starting down in 22nd and racing at Kansas for the first time, van Gisbergen produced a smashing final stage to soar to eighth and fifth amongst the Playoff contenders. It was the Kiwi’s fourth best result on an oval and could not have come at a more critical moment in the Playoffs opener where he is trying to be one of the leading eight to make the cut after the first three-race segment. Up front Aric Almirola made a late-race charge to snatch the win from Playoff drivers Cole Custer and Chandler Smith, who had words post-race. Sheldon Creed in fifth and Austin Hill in seventh were the only other Playoff drivers to finish ahead of the #97. The big Playoff victim was Justin Allgaier, who crashed out after making contact with Sheldon Creed and spinning into the inside wall from 10th on Lap 20. Van Gisbergen started 22nd after qualifying 0.948s off pole sitter Brandon Jones and had a steady opening stage, crossing the line 24th. The Kiwi crept into the top 20 in a second stage that was heavily […]
