Shane van Gisbergen showcased his exceptional driving skills in the #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro, clinching his fourth Cup Series victory this year.
Dominance on the Track
Driving the #88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro, SVG controlled the race proceedings, establishing a remarkable 10-second lead over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher. Notably, Buescher had previously defeated van Gisbergen in a thrilling last-lap showdown a year prior. The Bus Stop Chicane had been the site of van Gisbergen’s misfortune in 2024, but this year, he ensured there were no close calls. “Good to get that one back,” van Gisbergen remarked. “Thank you everyone for coming out. What an awesome race. The last stint we cleared out, but the battle coming back through was a lot of fun.”
A Special Moment
Expressing gratitude, he added, “Thank you to WeatherTech, Trackhouse, the car was just amazing again to get another win. I definitely gave that Bus Stop wall another metre on that last lap. Awesome.” This victory was particularly special for van Gisbergen, as it marked the first time his father, Robert van Gisbergen, was trackside at a NASCAR Cup Series event. “It’s amazing to have him here. It’s been a very tough year for Dad. He hasn’t been able to travel, so I have him here for the next three weeks to share this with him. It’s amazing.”
Historic Achievement
With this win, van Gisbergen made history as the first driver to secure four NASCAR Cup Series victories in their rookie season. His triumph at Watkins Glen adds to his previous wins in Mexico City, Chicago, and Sonoma. This latest victory propelled him to 22 Playoff points, potentially securing his advancement to the Round of 12. “I’m just a very lucky guy to get to race for an amazing bunch of people,” he stated. “Just execute. Man, the day just went flawlessly. I can’t believe it. I really enjoyed it.”
The Road Ahead
Looking forward, he acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly with the first round featuring several difficult left-hand tracks. “I’m getting better at it and I’m enjoying myself. It’s a challenge, but that’s why we’re here. We’ll have a proper crack.”
Race Highlights
From pole position, Blaney led van Gisbergen into Turn 1, maintaining control during the initial phase of the race. The first few laps were incident-free until Kyle Larson in the #5 Camaro spun due to a brake issue. As Stage 1 neared its conclusion, Blaney and van Gisbergen pitted for tires and fuel, allowing RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher in the #17 Mustang to claim the stage win on Lap 20. Buescher was followed by Alex Bowman (#48 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro) and Ryan Preece (#60 RFK Racing Mustang).
Van Gisbergen restarted fifth behind Blaney and quickly made his way past Elliott and Buescher, executing a three-wide maneuver into the Bus Stop Chicane. He nearly led a lap until he overtook Preece at the penultimate turn on Lap 25.
Action-Packed Stages
The second stage proved to be more chaotic. While van Gisbergen maintained his lead, drama unfolded behind him. A caution was called on Lap 28 when Josh Berry in the #21 Wood Brothers Racing Mustang spun out after contact with Ty Dillon (#10 Kaulig Racing Camaro). The race resumed on Lap 32 with van Gisbergen leading.
Similar to Stage 1, he opted to pit just before Stage 2 concluded, while Blaney chose a different strategy to secure the stage win. As the stage was wrapping up, teammates Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek from Legacy Motor Club had a close encounter, resulting in Jones having to navigate onto the grass.
During the Lap 45 restart, van Gisbergen started just outside the top 10 and quickly gained ground, maneuvering through cars on older tires. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin in the #11 Toyota made contact with Kyle Busch’s #8 Camaro, causing a half-spin but allowing both drivers to continue racing.
The Final Push
With 37 laps remaining, van Gisbergen made a crucial move for the lead against Blaney. He extended his run and completed his final pit stop with less than 30 laps to go. After the pit stops, van Gisbergen surged back to the front with just over 15 laps remaining, ahead of Buescher and William Byron in the #24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro.
As the race progressed, Nemechek threatened to bring out a caution when he got sideways coming out of the esses down the backstretch, adding to the excitement of the day.