Shane van Gisbergen leaves Circuit of the Americas with out the race win, however he’s now ranked fifth within the championship level standings after a really robust factors day.
In 2025, SVG gained each street/avenue course race on the NASCAR Cup schedule except for one — Circuit of the Americas.
Whereas he gained Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Elements Collection race at COTA, Van Gisbergen got here one place shy of finishing the sweep within the 2026 version of this race.
Nonetheless, he did put up one spectacular effort and gained a variety of beneficial factors. After qualifying thirteenth, he marched steadily by way of the sphere, reaching as excessive as third earlier than the primary cycle of pit stops. SVG stayed out till the top of the stage, gathering 9 stage factors by crossing the road in second. He later earned one other stage level for tenth in Stage 2.
Within the closing stage, he remained simply outdoors the lead battle as Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney dominated a lot of the race. It seemed as if he was going to have a strong high 5 outcome, however the first pure warning of the race (for teammate Ross Chastain shedding a wheel) gave him an actual shot on the win.
Unable to cease Reddick’s three-peat
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota; Shane van Gisbergen, No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs
SVG overtook Blaney on the restart, and carefully pursued Reddick for a number of laps. Sadly for the Trackhouse star, the #97 couldn’t sustain with Reddick’s speedy go, and he light again to 4 seconds behind. Nonetheless, SVG completed second for his first high 5 of the 2026 season.
“It’s bizarre to be dissatisfied with second,” he stated after climbing out of the automobile. “This collection is simply so excessive stage and I felt okay. We acquired our Chevy loads higher than yesterday, however following Tyler – his driving was immaculate, and his automobile was superb too. I attempted. Didn’t fairly have sufficient, however nonetheless an excellent factors day for the #97.”
As for what he wanted, SVG stated that the automobile “lacked a bit little bit of flip and a bit little bit of drive.” Tyler [Reddick] was simply wonderful. The best way he was driving was actually good and his automobile was good. We simply didn’t fairly have sufficient…”
Van Gisbergen entered this weekend’s race sixteenth within the championship standings after his finest oval outcome up to now in Cup, only one week in the past. Nonetheless, Sunday’s effort at COTA vaulted him all the best way as much as fifth, simply 26 factors behind second place whereas 96 factors behind Reddick.Â
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