Shane Van Gisbergen, the New Zealand driver for Trackhouse Racing, overcame multiple spins and on-track challenges to secure his best finish on an oval in the NASCAR Cup Series at EchoPark Speedway. The race concluded with Tyler Reddick claiming victory in double overtime, while Van Gisbergen crossed the line in sixth place.
Strong Performance Alongside Team and Competitors
Van Gisbergen’s impressive run placed him among the top finishers alongside his teammate Ross Chastain, who also performed well, finishing third. Rookie Connor Zilisch, however, did not complete the race after being caught up in a multi-car collision with fewer than 50 laps remaining.
Early Race Developments and Incident With Kyle Larson
During the first stage, Van Gisbergen kept his No. 97 Chevrolet clean and positioned himself to earn points in the second stage. Unfortunately, a collision with defending champion Kyle Larson sent Van Gisbergen sliding into the grass just before the stage ended, though he still received one stage point. Larson explained the incident, attributing it to a misjudgment during his attempt to cut inside the track at the corner.
So once I was clear, I just wanted to cut distance and short-cut my way to the stage finish. The No. 97 was out of my mirror. I just hung a quick left and ran right into him. There was nothing anyone else did wrong, it was all on me.
— Kyle Larson, NASCAR Driver
Second Spin and Recovery Efforts
About 30 laps after the initial grass run, Van Gisbergen spun again while contending in the top 10, this time in front of Austin Cindric. The driver navigated through the grass onto pit road without damaging the car but communicated that the vehicle had become too loose. Despite these setbacks, Van Gisbergen steadily recovered, moving back up the field and reaching ninth place before overtime began.
I thought I was a Kubota for a moment,
— Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Strong Finish and Championship Implications
Van Gisbergen capitalized on the overtime periods, ultimately securing sixth place by the race’s conclusion. With two races into the 2026 season, he is tied for 16th place in the points standings alongside Chase Briscoe. Though this position is not secure for advancing into The Chase, Van Gisbergen’s upcoming race at Circuit of the Americas offers optimism, especially considering his five road course wins last season.
That smile at the end 😃 https://t.co/oWbgRQPWqr pic.twitter.com/K3ZfRMvPxr
— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) February 23, 2026
Shane van Gisbergen did more than just earn his best oval finish (sixth) at Atlanta. He also did it after being competitive all day and after two different trips through the infield grass. "I thought I was a Kubota for a second."
SVG has been strong on speedways to start the… pic.twitter.com/X5HN5F6mwO
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) February 23, 2026
