For the second straight weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is being given a treat, with another head-to-head battle between teammates Shane Van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch, teammates at both JR Motorsports and Trackhouse Racing.
After Friday’s qualifying session at Sonoma Raceway, the early advantage has to go to Van Gisbergen, after the Auckland, New Zealand-native scored the pole for the Pit Boss / FoodMaxx 200.
With a stellar lap time of 75.259 seconds (95.191mph), Van Gisbergen was able to secure his fifth career pole in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, beating teammate Zilisch by nearly a quarter-second on his fastest lap.
“Qualifying, to be front row for our team, thank you to JR Motorsports, our car is really, really good,” Van Gisbergen said after qualifying. “Yeah, I was having fun out there, and awesome to have my friends from Australia, Quad Lock, back on the car, and yeah, looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
Van Gisbergen has been untouchable in his limited time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, winning the pole and the race last weekend at the Chicago Street Course in the No. 9 for JR Motorsports, a feat he looks to accomplish once again on Saturday.
Connor Zilisch will roll from the outside of the front row in Saturday’s event at Sonoma Raceway, as the JR Motorsports full-timer looks to collect his third victory of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign.
Van Gisbergen and Zilisch were the two favorites coming into the event, and have proven exactly why that is with their 1-2 starting positions.
Sam Mayer will start from third in the No. 41 Ford Mustang for Haas Factory Team, while Jesse Love will roll from fourth place. William Sawalich was the fastest driver in the first group, and his lap time held up for a top-five starting spot.
Sammy Smith, Carson Kvapil, Brandon Jones, Sheldon Creed, and Justin Allgaier completed the top-10. All five entries from JR Motorsports will occupy a starting spot from inside the first five rows.
STARTING LINEUP: 2025 NXS Pit Boss / FoodMaxx 250
Just outside the top-10 was Taylor Gray, who will have to drop to the rear of the field at the start of Saturday’s event. Gray told The CW that Joe Gibbs Racing will have to change the engine on his No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra before the race.
“Yeah, we’re going to have to swap motors here tonight or in the morning,” Gray said. “We blew up there in qualifying, but super proud of my Joe Gibbs Racing guys. We’re going to put some work in and get it changed, and have to come from the back tomorrow.”
Blaine Perkins and Anthony Alfredo put together some solid runs for their underfunded teams, Jordan Anderson Racing and Young’s Motorsports, qualifying 12th and 13th.
Other notables include Riley Herbst (15th), Austin Hill (16th), Christian Eckes (21st), Nick Sanchez (23rd), Ryan Sieg (29th), and Daniel Dye (31st).
With 39 drivers entered in Saturday’s 200-mile contest from Sonoma, only one driver was forced to pack up and head home prior to the green flag.
Austin J. Hill, driving the No. 35 Chevrolet for Joey Gase Motorsports, was forced to pack up, and will not make his series debut at Sonoma.
The Pit Boss / FoodMaxx 200 at Sonoma Raceway will take place on Saturday, July 12 at 4:30pm ET on The CW, Performance Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.-
