The NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the Chicago street circuit ended with a dramatic and tense battle between Shane van Gisbergen and 18-year-old standout Connor Zilisch. What unfolded in the race’s final moments involved van Gisbergen, a top road course specialist, aggressively pushing Zilisch aside after lining up on the front row during a late restart, surprising many fans and insiders alike. This incident has sparked heated reactions, particularly because both drivers represent the same JR Motorsports team.
Van Gisbergen’s Aggressive Passing Sparks Criticism
Despite being known for his skillful and respectful road racing style, Shane van Gisbergen did not hesitate to physically nudge past Zilisch in the closing laps. Although Zilisch fought hard to recover, the damage was done, and van Gisbergen secured the lead. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who oversees the team, expressed his surprise and disappointment, having expected a cleaner contest between teammates.
I walk up to Zilisch on pit road as SVG’s doing his burnout,
Earnhardt said.
And I said, ‘Hey, man, he ran you pretty dirty there. I didn’t expect that from him.’
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Van Gisbergen’s reputation as a road course ace usually means he relies on finesse rather than contact, so the move surprised many. Earnhardt added that he had nearly advised Zilisch not to worry about any rough treatment from van Gisbergen, as that type of aggressive driving was uncharacteristic.
And Connor’s a better road racer than I was ever in my life,
Earnhardt explained.
He’s an excellent road racer, no question. And I’m not sitting here thinking I need to give him advice on that, I was just wanting to let him know, ‘I don’t believe SVG’s the guy that’s going to put the bumper to you.’ Boy, I’m glad I didn’t say it, because he did.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Faces a Difficult Role Managing Team Conflict
The moment placed Earnhardt in an uncomfortable spot, having to balance support for both drivers who compete under the same banner. After the incident, Earnhardt confronted Zilisch, offering sympathy for the rough treatment he endured and expressing his belief that van Gisbergen should have approached the race differently.
So I walked up to Connor after the race, I was like, ‘Man, I didn’t expect that. I think he should have treated you a little better there,’
Earnhardt recalled.
He basically said either hit the wall or lift coming out of 2. I expected SVG to do something differently than what he did.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt had based his prior expectations of van Gisbergen’s conduct on observations from the previous Chicago race earlier in 2023, drawing insight from van Gisbergen’s tenure in Australian V8 Supercars, known for a competitive yet respectful on-track code.
(They’re) texting me going, ‘Hey, watch this’ because he was trying to pass for the lead,
Earnhardt described.
They’re going, ‘Watch this, he won’t put a bumper on the guy, because SVG is going to pass him without even touching him. Watch this.’ So it imprinted on my mind, man, there’s a code and an ethics to how they race in the V8 Supercars. It’s physical, but there also is like a respect level. You can pass a guy without pushing him to the corner.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Competing Priorities Make Team Management Challenging
Earnhardt acknowledged the complexity of managing drivers competing both for individual glory and under a shared owner. The victory celebration for van Gisbergen contrasted sharply with Earnhardt’s need to address Zilisch’s frustration honestly, revealing the challenge of balancing fairness and team morale in high-stakes racing situations.
You had two cars, you own them both, you’re going to go to victory lane,
Earnhardt said.
You’re going to high-five the sh*t out of SVG and say, ‘Hell yeah, brother, great win.’ But you’ve got to go up to the other guy and you can’t lie to him and say, ‘Boy, you got what you deserved there’ or ‘What SVG did there was all fair.’ You’ve got to go up to him and tell him what you really believe.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
He elaborated on the difficult dual role he fills:
And if I’m his car and I’m owning his car, I’m standing there wearing the owner’s hat for this car, I’ve got to go, ‘I didn’t expect him to run you into the wall over there, that was pretty crummy.’ Because that’s exactly what happened, and that’s exactly how I feel about this (Connor Zilisch) car. And then when I walked away from that car to the other (Shane van Gisbergen) car that’s in victory lane, I’m going to tell him the truth about how I feel about his car sitting in victory lane.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead
The incident at Chicago serves as a stark reminder to Zilisch about the intensity of competition at this level, while Earnhardt is reminded of the complexities involved in balancing leadership and fairness within a racing organization. It marks a learning moment for all involved, underscoring the thin line between aggressive driving and team loyalty in NASCAR’s fiercely contested environment.
Man, I know that there’s owners that find themselves in those scenarios at the Cup level — Mr. Gibbs and Rick — but it’s not easy,
Earnhardt said, reflecting on the challenges of managing such conflicts.
Going forward, the dynamics between van Gisbergen and Zilisch will be closely watched, especially as both drivers continue to vie for success within JR Motorsports. The Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR incident highlights how even experienced veterans can cause controversy, reminding the NASCAR community that respect and rivalry often collide under pressure, shaping future races and team decisions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes his decision to leave Supercars for NASCAR was the \x26quot;right thing.\x26quot; This year, he’s starting his full-time journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. He made this move after spending 15 years competing in Supercars.
Q. How much did Shane van Gisbergen win in NASCAR?
A. Stewart-Haas Racing shut down after 16 seasons mainly because it was hard to get sponsors for four cars. Stewart is leaving the sport while NASCAR teams are worried about its future.
