With eighteen laps remaining in the Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen, Connor Zilisch overtook Shane Van Gisbergen to take the lead but went wide as he exited the corner. As Zilisch attempted to rejoin the track, his car’s front made contact with the rear of Van Gisbergen’s vehicle, causing Van Gisbergen to spin out and crash.
Severe Impact Leaves Van Gisbergen’s Car Heavily Damaged
Van Gisbergen’s car slammed violently into the wall, with all four wheels lifting off the ground during the crash, leaving his vehicle severely damaged. Despite the harsh impact, Van Gisbergen quickly confirmed over the team radio that he was unharmed. He exited the car unassisted, was taken to the medical center for evaluation, and was cleared of any injuries.
Drivers React to the Collision and Incident Causes
Van Gisbergen expressed his disappointment following the crash, stating,
“Yeah, not ideal, pretty gutted really. Our car wasn’t great, but we still managed to get ourselves in a good position,”
as he reflected on the race. When asked about his thoughts on Zilisch’s role in the incident, Van Gisbergen said,
“I haven’t watched the incident yet, but will watch it later and sort it out.”
Meanwhile, Zilisch appeared unsettled by the collision and explained over team radio,
“I just don’t know where I could have done. He didn’t leave me any room to rejoin.”
When his crew urged him to move past the incident, Zilisch responded,
“Don’t lie to me if I wrecked him either. … If I wrecked him, tell me.”
Crash Raises Concerns Over Overtaking Space at Watkins Glen
The Shane Van Gisbergen crash highlights the challenges drivers face when battling for position late in a race at Watkins Glen. With limited room to maneuver, tensions run high as contenders push aggressively for the lead. This incident may prompt teams and officials to review racing protocols around track re-entry and overtaking safety to reduce the risk of similar crashes in future events.
