P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Connor Zilisch has been praised by his rival after his impressive victory in the Sonoma Xfinity race.
Shane van Gisbergen praised Connor Zilisch’s composure and defensive driving skills during their intense battle in the Xfinity Series race at Sonoma on Saturday. Despite van Gisbergen dominating the Cup Series event on Sunday, he narrowly lost to Zilisch in the Xfinity race, where the young driver showed impressive talent at just 18 years old.
Both drivers fought fiercely for the win on the 2.5-mile road course, with Zilisch showcasing maturity beyond his age by securing victory by a mere 0.04s. Zilisch is expected to join the Cup Series full-time next year with Trackhouse Racing, possibly alongside van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain if the opportunity arises.
Van Gisbergen expressed admiration for Zilisch’s driving skills and predicted many future battles against him, acknowledging the young driver’s potential to become a star in the sport. Despite competing in different series, both drivers share Red Bull sponsorship and have already faced off in NASCAR’s top tiers.
While van Gisbergen focuses on the Cup Series, Zilisch is managing a full-time Xfinity campaign along with occasional Cup starts for Trackhouse Racing, each pushing the other to excel on different types of tracks. Zilisch recognizes the impact of van Gisbergen’s performance in elevating the competition level in the Cup Series, expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity to race against and learn from the seasoned driver.
