Shane van Gisbergen’s #9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro was severely damaged during a dramatic race incident involving Connor Zilisch. The two drivers were competing fiercely for the lead as they approached Turn 6. Zilisch, driving the #88, attempted to overtake van Gisbergen on the outside but ended up running wide. With track limits not being enforced, Zilisch took advantage of the run-off before rejoining the racing line, where he encountered van Gisbergen. The New Zealander left just enough space for his American rival, but as Zilisch’s left front corner clipped the right rear of van Gisbergen’s car, it sent him into a spin as they entered Turn 7. At high speed, van Gisbergen crashed into the SAFER barrier, resulting in irreparable damage to the Chevrolet Camaro.
In a detailed analysis of the incident on the Dale Jr Download, van Gisbergen expressed his regret over the crash. “Firstly, sorry to junk one of your beautiful race cars,” he told Dale Earnhardt Jr. He reflected on the differences in racing styles, noting that in most series, if a driver goes off track, it’s their responsibility to return safely. However, he observed that in this case, both drivers share the responsibility to maintain racing conditions and offer each other racing room.
He continued, “The other thing was he was catching me. He was way faster and I thought to myself I’ll try and hold him off for three or four laps and maybe his tyres will heat up following me and then it’ll equal out.” As the race progressed, van Gisbergen was under pressure but was still determined to defend his position. He mentioned, “It was a good race. He was patient with me.” However, when Zilisch attempted to pass on the outside, van Gisbergen acknowledged that he hadn’t cleared him completely but provided just enough room for him to re-enter the track.
“It was just a misjudgement or racing incident really but with a catastrophic result,” he added. Van Gisbergen admitted to defending hard and returning to the middle of the road to gain a better run on the straight, which led to the collision. “It was both our fault, really,” he concluded.
Zilisch, on the other hand, was left questioning the incident. He repeatedly asked over the radio if he was at fault. Although JR Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing spotter Josh Williams reassured him that he wasn’t to blame, he suggested on Door Bumper Clear that it was “probably” Zilisch’s fault. Zilisch defended his actions, stating, “I did not do that on purpose. If I wanted to wreck him, I had 10 laps before. I was doing literally everything in my power to try and pass him without touching him.”
He recounted his efforts to overtake van Gisbergen over the course of several laps, emphasizing that he was trying to force a mistake without making contact. “I was lining him up in the brake zones, trying to force him to make a mistake. He’s just so hard to force into a mistake,” Zilisch explained. He acknowledged that he misjudged the situation when re-entering the track and wished he had lifted to avoid the collision.
Reflecting on the fierce competition, Zilisch noted, “We were just fighting for the same spot and he knew that as soon as I got the lead I had the better car and was going to drive away and win the race if another caution didn’t come out.”
After the race, Zilisch suffered a fall from his car, resulting in a broken collarbone, for which he has since undergone surgery. The Xfinity Series now has a weekend off before returning to Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, August 23 (AEST).