SVG Strikes Again on the Road Courses of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Kelsey Christman - Staff Writer

Shane van Gisbergen leads the field from the beginning of the race. (Jonathan Bachman, Getty Images, June 2026)

Sonoma, CA - The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series stayed out West for another week as it headed to Sonoma Raceway for the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. NASCAR Cup Series drivers Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch joined the field, driving entries for JR Motorsports and Jordan Anderson Racing. SVG claimed the pole, with 18-year-old Brent Crews joining him on the front row.

Austin Green took a hard hit in Turn 11 during Friday's practice, forcing him to start at the rear in a backup car. He was joined at the back by Ryan Ellis, Connor Zilisch, and Brennan Poole due to unapproved adjustments, Kyle Kelley with a battery issue, and Brad Perez following an engine change.

Zilisch’s misfortunes for the weekend were the story of Stage One. While working to overcome his 34th place starting position, the team elected to pit on Lap 16 to flip the stage. Upon entering pit road, the No. 1 Chevrolet was issued a penalty for speeding when entering pit road and was forced to serve a pass-through penalty before the end of the stage. 

Viking Motorsports continued to be a topic of discussion as both Anthony Alfredo and Parker Retzlaff remained consistent fixtures in the top 10 from the drop of the green flag. Alfredo claimed his first career stage win at the conclusion of Stage One, while Retzlaff finished just three spots behind him. Although the team did not collect points in Stage Two, they chose to prioritize track position for the restart. Entering the race, it had been two years since Alfredo recorded his last top five finish. He snapped that drought with a fourth-place finish, while Retzlaff came home one position behind him in fifth. 

This race one year ago was won by Connor Zilisch after a thrilling battle with teammate Shane van Gisbergen, but this year the roles were reversed. From the opening lap to the checkered flag, SVG held a commanding lead over the field, ultimately taking the victory by 1.53 seconds over the No. 1 Chevrolet. Taylor Gray's day ended in heartbreak after running out of fuel while in fourth place just before taking the checkered flag, costing him a strong finish and valuable championship points. Brent Crews capitalized on the opportunity for points as he secured himself above the cut line with a finish in third. 

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The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series returns to oval racing as it heads to Chicagoland Speedway, which returns to the NASCAR schedule after a seven year hiatus. The race is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 4, and will air on The CW.