The rivalry between Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen just got a whole lot spicier. After watching the veteran Kiwi pull a masterful last-lap move in Chicago, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s protégé isn’t backing down. Instead, he’s doubling down with a public callout that has NASCAR fans buzzing ahead of this weekend’s showdown at Sonoma Raceway.
How Will Connor Zilisch’s Bold Challenge Change the Dynamic at Sonoma?
Three-time Supercars champion van Gisbergen has been impressive in a stock car ever since his triumphant Cup Series debut in 2023. Until now, few have been able to challenge the 36-year-old in a stock car, especially on a road course. While Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs came close last weekend, finishing second behind the Kiwi, 18-year-old Zilisch followed suit on Saturday, showing his prowess against one of the sport’s most experienced road course racers.
Despite securing a full-time ride at Trackhouse Racing, van Gisbergen is still set to run select Xfinity races, including the upcoming feature at Sonoma Raceway. Now, with the JR Motorsports teammates set to face off again, Zilisch has upped the stakes, calling out the veteran publicly with a bold message that caught everyone’s attention.
In a brief social media post, the JRM phenom wrote, “Comin for ya mate @shanevg97,” tagging van Gisbergen and making it clear that he’ll be gunning for revenge. Zilisch’s post was basically a retweet of NASCAR’s Xfinity post, which highlighted JRM’s growing, healthy in-team rivalry that’s becoming must-see television.
Comin for ya mate @shanevg97 😀 https://t.co/6XhIlBt3PX
— Connor Zilisch (@ConnorZilisch) July 11, 2025
What Makes This Weekend’s Race Different From Chicago?
While van Gisbergen has been a force to be reckoned with on road courses, acing NASCAR’s inaugural race at Mexico City with a 16.567-second margin, Zilisch has been pushing his own envelope. The Charlotte native has been racking up impressive wins at COTA and Pocono, with the latter marking his first oval victory. In fact, the Charlottean hasn’t finished outside the top five in over a month, building momentum that has him feeling confident heading into Sonoma.
The Chicago finish still stings for Zilisch. Leading the field to green with two laps to the checkered flag at the “Windy City,” Zilisch was poised for win No. 3 until the more experienced van Gisbergen made his move. The Kiwi drove up on the inside of the No. 88 off Turn 1, essentially running Zilisch wide into the corner to take the lead in a textbook veteran move.
As a result, van Gisbergen won the race and left Zilisch with a valuable lesson about racecraft. But this weekend’s Xfinity race at Sonoma offers the teenager a shot at redemption on another challenging road course. The early signs look promising for Zilisch. In fact, the 18-year-old bested the veteran during Friday’s practice, showing he has the speed to back up his bold words.
However, van Gisbergen showed his racecraft when it mattered most during qualifying, clinching the pole position and putting himself in the best spot to control the race from the start. The veteran knows how to peak at the right moments, and starting up front gives him a significant advantage on a track where passing can be challenging.
Van Gisbergen is the defending Xfinity Series race winner at Sonoma and has proved time and again that he has what it takes to outmaneuver younger competitors when the pressure is highest. But can Zilisch channel his frustration from Chicago into a breakthrough performance and rack up a third win of the season?
Only time will tell.