Shane van Gisbergen’s challenging campaign in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 16 concluded with a 26th place finish at the Bristol Night Race. Despite earlier disappointing results of 32nd at Darlington and 25th at Gateway, van Gisbergen’s lowest possible standing in the points remains 16th as the playoffs advance.
Key Eliminations and Race Challenges
Alongside van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, and Josh Berry were also eliminated at Bristol. The race became a test of endurance as severe tire wear impacted drivers early on. Berry’s playoffs effectively ended when his car caught fire on lap 80 of the 500-lap event, while Bowman managed to recover from an early spin. Ryan Blaney secured a stage win after a close contest with Ty Gibbs.
At the midway stage of the race, van Gisbergen found himself in 29th position. A caution on lap 147 was triggered when Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Erik Jones, and Michael McDowell spun, with van Gisbergen narrowly avoiding the incident. Later, on lap 238, van Gisbergen was spun out from 33rd place by William Byron, who was subsequently penalized by losing his lucky dog free pass. Ty Gibbs claimed the stage victory while van Gisbergen slipped to 34th.
Multiple Spins and Crashes Mar the Race
Further incidents included Noah Gragson crashing after bumping Todd Gilliland on lap 294, and Chase Elliott being turned around by John Hunter Nemechek seventeen laps later. Stenhouse Jr. spun again following contact from Bubba Wallace, and Kyle Larson lost control on lap 364, damaging his car against the wall after earlier collisions. On lap 384, a crash involving AJ Allmendinger and Denny Hamlin, who lost a wheel, brought out another caution.
With the race leader Brad Keselowski involved in a late-race incident that sent Wallace into the wall, the stage was set for an electrifying finish on a mixed tire setup. Ultimately, Christopher Bell claimed victory, finishing ahead of Keselowski and Zane Smith.
Looking Forward: Upcoming Round at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 will commence next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Shane van Gisbergen has minimal experience at this venue, having competed once previously in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last June, where he finished 18th. This upcoming race offers a fresh opportunity for all remaining drivers to improve their standings as the playoffs intensify.
