Sun Jul 13 22:40:00 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the text:**

Connor Zilisch, 18, triumphed over his JR Motorsports teammate Shane van Gisbergen, 36, in a thrilling Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway. After losing to van Gisbergen the previous week in Chicago, Zilisch held off the seasoned driver in the closing laps, surviving contact and ultimately winning by 0.438 seconds. The two drivers dominated the race, leading a majority of the laps and pulling away from the rest of the field. This victory marks Zilisch’s third Xfinity Series win of the season and fourth of his career. The race also highlighted JR Motorsports’ strong performance, placing five drivers in the top nine.

**Here’s a news article based on the text:**

**Teenager Connor Zilisch Edges Out Veteran Van Gisbergen in Sonoma Thriller**

SONOMA, Calif. – In a battle of skill and strategy, 18-year-old Connor Zilisch emerged victorious at the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway, defeating his JR Motorsports teammate, veteran racer Shane van Gisbergen. The race, a two-driver showcase, saw Zilisch fend off relentless pressure from van Gisbergen in the final laps, avenging a previous loss to the New Zealander in Chicago.

Zilisch, who started on the pole, and Van Gisbergen led a combined 70 of the 79 laps, showcasing their dominance on the road course. The young driver demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, surviving contact with Van Gisbergen on the final lap and ultimately crossing the finish line 0.438 seconds ahead.

“First, hats off to Shane,” Zilisch said after the race. “All race long, I felt like we were racing each other with respect. I learned a lot racing around him, and he’s got so many years of experience on me that I can learn from.”

Van Gisbergen, the defending race winner, acknowledged the close battle, stating, “I gave him a bump into 7, and he wheel-hopped, and I probably could have taken it, but I just waited. I didn’t want to do it like that, and then we raced down the hill. What an awesome race.”

This victory marks Zilisch’s third Xfinity Series win of the season, tying him for the series lead. William Sawalich finished third, a distant 13.668 seconds behind the leaders, rounding out a strong performance for JR Motorsports, who placed five drivers in the top nine.

The Xfinity Series now heads to Dover Motor Speedway next Saturday, where Ryan Truex will be looking for a three-peat at the one-mile concrete oval.

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