Connor Zilisch, a driver associated with Dale Earnhardt Jr., accused Ty Gibbs of making a deliberately aggressive and “dirty” move during the race. The incident occurred in the final stages of the race and resulted in significant damage to both drivers’ cars, impacting their finishing positions. Zilisch described the move as “pretty intentional,” indicating it was not just a racing incident but a deliberate act by Gibbs.

In post-race comments, Zilisch explained that the restart was chaotic, and while he was leading, he did not get a good push down the front straightaway. This allowed Daniel Suárez and Ty Gibbs to get alongside him. Entering the first turn, Zilisch went in a bit too hot and ended up hitting Gibbs, which ended both of their races prematurely. Zilisch expressed frustration, saying he wished the incident had not happened and believed a better push on the restart could have changed the outcome.

When asked about earlier contact with Gibbs during the race, Zilisch acknowledged that Gibbs had been racing him very hard throughout. He mentioned that he had initially let Gibbs have the lead but was faster afterward. Zilisch admitted that when he cleared Gibbs into turn one, he went in a little deep and washed out, which Gibbs apparently did not like, leading to Gibbs retaliating with the aggressive move. Zilisch emphasized that the aggressive move was not just due to the tightness of the track but was pretty intentional on Gibbs’ part.

The race itself was notable for Daniel Suárez’s comeback victory, which was celebrated by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the Mexican fans, as Suárez became the first Mexican driver to win a NASCAR national series race in Mexico since 2008. The atmosphere at the race was electric, with fans loudly supporting Suárez, especially during the final laps.

The incident between Zilisch and Gibbs overshadowed some of the racing but highlighted the intense competition and emotions involved in NASCAR racing, especially on a challenging and tight track like Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Zilisch’s comments reflect the frustration drivers often feel when aggressive moves cross the line from hard racing to what they perceive as unfair or intentional contact.

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