Shane Van Gisbergen Claims Victory in Thrilling 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Chicago Street Race

The streets of Chicago played host to one of the most electrifying races of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season on July 5, as Shane van Gisbergen powered his No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to a dramatic win in the Chicago Street Race. The New Zealand native showcased resilience, skill, and impeccable timing to secure victory by 0.823 seconds over rising star Connor Zilisch, capping a race filled with cautions, pit strategies, and late-race drama.

Race Recap: A Battle to the Finish

Van Gisbergen started strong, taking the lead from pole and controlling the early stages of the 50-lap contest. However, the road to victory was anything but straightforward. Multiple caution periods—including spins, crashes, and mechanical issues—kept the field tight and strategies in flux.

By Lap 35, Sheldon Creed had emerged as a dominant force, leading under caution with Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch in close pursuit. Creed, who started fourth, showcased remarkable pace and composure, even securing the Stage 1 victory earlier in the race. But Zilisch, who had started a distant 35th after a practice crash, had methodically worked his way to the front.

Momentum Shifts: Pit Strategies and Restarts

Throughout the race, pit strategy played a key role. Shane van Gisbergen and several others elected to stay out during an early yellow at Lap 16, giving him track position which he converted into a Stage 1 win. However, issues cropped up, including a malfunctioning cool shirt system and reported engine concerns, which threatened to derail his efforts.

The race’s final phase intensified with a series of cautions. At Lap 45, a spin by Andre Castro in Turn 6 brought out a yellow, setting the stage for a thrilling shootout. On the Lap 49 restart, van Gisbergen and Zilisch lined up side-by-side—Van Gisbergen on the outside. Contact in Turn 1 pushed Zilisch wide and into the wall, but he recovered quickly and chased down the leader until the final corner.

Despite immense pressure, van Gisbergen held on to win with 27 laps led and a defining performance in the closing stages.

Key Moments from the Race

• Lap 50: Van Gisbergen crosses the line just 0.823 seconds ahead of Zilisch.

• Lap 49: Aggressive restart sees Van Gisbergen push Zilisch wide; Zilisch bounces off the wall and regains ground by Turn 12.

• Lap 43: Justin Allgaier suffers brake issues and drops from seventh through the field.

• Lap 35: Creed leads under caution, having dominated the mid-race segment.

• Lap 30: Creed wins Stage 1, followed by Jesse Love and Austin Hill.

• Lap 19: Van Gisbergen reports engine issues but still manages to lead the restart.

• Lap 5: First caution as Van Gisbergen leads all laps from pole to this point.

• Lap 1: Van Gisbergen launches strongly off the line to take the early lead.

Notable Performances

• Connor Zilisch: Despite starting at the back, he carved through the field and nearly won the race. His late-race battle with Van Gisbergen was among the highlights of the day.

• Sheldon Creed: Earned the Stage 1 win and led multiple laps. He was in contention until late-race cautions shuffled the order.

• Austin Hill and Jesse Love: Regular frontrunners who stayed competitive through strategy and pace.

Chicago Street Course Xfinity Series Results

July 5, 2025