Team Owner Opens Up About SVG’s Relationship With Connor Zilisch After Watkins Glen Clash

When two drivers collide on track, it’s never just about bent sheet metal; it’s about pride, trust, and the fine line between racing hard and racing smart. That was exactly the scene at Watkins Glen, where Shane van Gisbergen and rising star Connor Zilisch gave fans a storyline that stretched far beyond a typical racing mishap.

What could have been just another “hard racing” moment quickly became the focal point of the weekend, stirring conversations in garages, on podcasts, and across social media. And according to Justin Marks, there’s a very clear read on how things stand between the two behind closed doors.

So, it all started with Zilisch on pole, determined to hold his ground against his more experienced Kaulig Racing stablemate. As the laps ticked down in the Xfinity Series race, SVG, fresh off a quick pit cycle, found himself in the thick of a three-wide battle. Heading into the technical section of the track, Zilisch swung wide to set up a move.

But as he came back onto the racing line after using the runoff at Turn 6, his left front made just enough contact with SVG’s right rear to send the No. 97 spinning hard into the SAFER barrier. SVG’s day was over, the car too damaged to continue, and the incident instantly lit up the NASCAR chatter mill.

Justin Marks sat down with the SiriusXM post race, and noted, “Everything is fine between the two of them, everything is fine within the team.”

He also remarked that, “you go look at it one way and say…Shane didn’t leave a lot of room there…you could also say that they were three-wide and jumbled up, and Connor could have lifted,” presenting a balanced view that reinforced his belief in treating the episode as a racing incident without ascribing blame.

The aftermath was equally dramatic: Zilisch emerged victorious, but his celebrations in victory lane were cut short after he suffered a heavy fall, breaking his collarbone. He was immediately taken to the hospital, but was thankfully alert and in good spirits. And the way Zilisch explained it says a lot about the young driver’s overall cultural approach.

“I did not do that on purpose. If I wanted to wreck him, I had 10 laps before [to do it]. … I was doing everything in my power to try to pass him without touching him. I got alongside him… went a little deep and went wide. I was coming back onto the track, and he’s just going dead straight and I expected him to open up the corner a little bit… In hindsight, my only option not to wreck him was to lift…”

And, despite the wreck, van Gisbergen kept his composure as well and did not blame anyone either. “Pretty gutted really, gutted for the JR Motorsports guys … I haven’t seen it yet. Will watch it later and work it out,” SVG added.

Further adding on to how Connor Zilisch’s radio conversation was honest, Justin Marks also said, “He asked a number of times on the radio for the team to just be honest with him…just to keep my motivation high…so I can understand the situation.”

While on one hand, we have Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar issues, on the other, there’s this, where issues are confronted head-on, mistakes acknowledged, and lessons absorbed. And that is also helping these new drivers learn the NASCAR format better.

SVG building toward playoff maturity

Shane van Gisbergen’s road course brilliance has guaranteed him a strong playoff position for 2025, but the real test lies ahead as the postseason brings a slew of challenging oval tracks territory where SVG concedes he has plenty yet to prove. Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks acknowledges the gulf between van Gisbergen’s current skill set and the demands of oval racing, emphasizing patience and growth rather than immediate championship expectations.

Marks has described this campaign as a “great learning experience,” allowing SVG to acclimate to new playoff pressures and strategies. He also said, “He’s (SVG) in a really good position and he can get through those three very difficult oval races in a competitive fashion.”.

Statistically, van Gisbergen is among the lower performers on ovals and drafting circuits, ranking fourth-worst on ovals and third-worst in drafting events, with a short-track average of 28.3, one of the lowest since 2005. Despite these numbers, Marks remains optimistic, pointing to the “rate of learning on the ovals” and a playoff points buffer as carrying SVG through early rounds even if the results aren’t stellar right away.

Trackhouse Racing’s playoff vision for SVG is not framed by immediate glory, but by the development of a balanced, seasoned contender. The combination of earned playoff points, steady support, and a focus on incremental learning forms the backbone for this rookie’s journey, showing that the team values long-term promise over short-term stakes.