During a NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Watkins Glen, Shane van Gisbergen lost control of his car while navigating a turn, which led to contact with Sam Mayer and Christian Eckes. The incident occurred when van Gisbergen, known for his road course expertise, slid straight through the corner, resulting in a collision that affected Eckes and Mayer. Despite this, van Gisbergen was still able to qualify strongly for the race, demonstrating resilience amid the setback.
Watkins Glen is a key track in the weekend schedule, known for its challenging road course layout, and the Xfinity race is anticipated to attract considerable attention given the talent-filled field and competitive cars. Van Gisbergen’s unusual mistake early in practice was a rare lapse for the typically consistent driver.
Impact on Qualifying Results and Team Standings
Although van Gisbergen’s mishap caused some damage, he managed to qualify in second place, proving the strength of his performance despite the incident. Sam Mayer secured the fourth position, while Christian Eckes, along with Austin J. Hill and Garrett Smithley, failed to record qualifying times due to the disruption. Notably, no drivers were excluded from the race based on qualifying results.
Connor Zilisch led the qualifying session, setting a pace well ahead of the competition. Van Gisbergen’s car, carrying minor damage from the practice clash, was more than half a second slower than his teammate Zilisch, indicating that the practice incident may have affected his potential speed. The upcoming race will likely see a strong contest between these two teammates unless further challenges emerge during the event.
Van Gisbergen’s Focus Shifts to Upcoming Cup Series Event
While today’s Xfinity race serves as an engaging competition for fans, Shane van Gisbergen’s primary attention remains on the more prestigious Cup Series race scheduled for Sunday at Watkins Glen. He will again face off against Connor Zilisch in that event, continuing their developing rivalry within the Trackhouse Racing team.
Long-Term Commitment Between Shane Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing
Ahead of the Watkins Glen weekend, Trackhouse Racing reaffirmed its commitment to Shane van Gisbergen by signing a multi-year contract extension, securing his place with the organization for the foreseeable future. Team owner Justin Marks expressed confidence in van Gisbergen’s value and potential, underpinning the decision to invest in a sustained partnership.
Connor Zilisch is also slated to join Trackhouse Racing next season, further strengthening the team’s roster. Although his specific plans have yet to be officially announced, anticipation has grown around the young driver’s addition to the lineup.
Van Gisbergen currently holds the reputation as the top road course specialist in the Cup Series, though Zilisch has already challenged that supremacy. Their competitive history includes Zilisch edging out van Gisbergen at Sonoma earlier in the year, and van Gisbergen returning the favor at Chicago. Watkins Glen is expected to be the deciding battleground for their rivalry in 2025, setting the stage for years of competition as teammates in NASCAR’s premier series.
“SVG was able to qualify his car.”
—Justin Marks, Team Owner
“Shane van Gisbergen is obviously the best road course racer in the Cup Series right now.”
—Trackhouse Racing Spokesperson
