Van Gisbergen second best as Zilisch wins final-lap thriller

Shane van Gisbergen has fallen four tenths short of back-to-back NASCAR Xfinity Series wins at Sonoma after being pipped by Connor Zilisch.
Zilisch and van Gisbergen dominated the 79-lap race, leading 70 of them and produced a grandstand finish that was not decided until the final corner.
The 18-year-old in the #88 possessed track position, but had SVG breathing down his neck and with five to go sat right under his bumper.
Van Gisbergen had two looks on the final lap at the and final corners, but Zilisch defended well, covering the inside line to secure a fifth Xfinity Series victory.
In addition to being JR Motorsport teammates, it was personal between the road-course specialists after they also went toe-to-toe in the closing stages at Chicago.
When asked if he could have been more aggressive, van Gisbergen said possibly, but was glad he could have a clean and fair battle that thrilled fans.
“Yeah, but I did not want to be,” SVG replied.
“Congrats to those guys. What an awesome race, and I hope everyone enjoyed that.
“I gave him a bump and wheel hopped into seven and could have got him, but just waited and did not want to do it like that and we raced down the hill.
“I had a blast all day and learnt a lot in terms of how the track rubbered and the lines changed as the race went on.”
Zilisch was pumped to beat van Gisbergen and acknowledged the Kiwi for a clean battle for glory.
“Hats off to Shane that was awesome,” he said.
“The whole time I felt that we raced with respect.
“I wheel hopped one time at seven when I got into him, but it was awesome to battle wth him the whole race long.
“He raced me clean and I respect that and looking forward to more battles.
I learnt so much racing against him. He has so many more years of experience against me, so glad he has come to America.
“So proud of the #88 team. We did an awesome job all weekend long, just executing.
“We made the right adjustments and here we are in victory lane.
“It is always the hardest saving fuel and having a battle
“We will race again at Watkins Glen and cannot wait for that.”
Van Gisbergen had led from pole before Zilisch launched an assault at the end of Lap 2 and wrestled control after three side-by-side corners.
Daniel Dye and Austin Green went off track in Turn 2, but the race stayed green.
The Kiwi only waited another three laps before snatching back the lead and controlled the field until Lap 18.
After the early rounds of their duel, the pair ended up pitting towards the end of the opening stage taken out by Sam Mayer.
The battle resumed at the start of the second stage where van Gisbergen and Zilisch went side by side for the first two turns before the teenager prevailed.
But three laps later the Kiwi went underneath him at Turn 11 and snatched the lead three corners later.
SVG held a slim lead until Lap 37 when Zilich responded and regained track position.
Little split the pair until Lap 43 when they followed each other into the lane, which allowed Brendon Jones to take the second stage.
Zilisch won the restart after van Gisbergen threatened across the first three corners, but lost ground after bouncing on the Turn 7 kerb and lost second to Will Sawalich, only briefly however.
Despite Corey Day beign spun by Austin Hill, the race remained green and it set up a stunning battle for the lead.
Nothing split van Gisbergen and Zilich all day, and they put on show in the run home.
Having hounded his bumper throughout the final seven laps, SVG gave Zilisch a bump going through Turn 7 on the penultimate lap before applying another tap, which got the #88 sideways through the esses.
Zilisch took the white flag with only three tenths up his sleeve and the Kiwi thought about a look at Turn 5.
Two corners later Zilisch covered hard, seeing the pair bump their way through the right hander.
It all came down to the 79th and final tour of the hairpin when Zilisch covered on the inside to deny van Gisbergen any hope of a miracle win.
Zilisch held on to square the ledger and further emphasise why he is one of the brightest young NASCAR stars.
Van Gisbergen will use the insights to chase a Cup Series victory in the Toyota Save Mart 350 coverage begins at 5.00 AEST Monday morning on Fox Sports 506/Kayo.
Photo by HHP/Tom Copeland
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