Kyle Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, pointed to the Shane Van Gisbergen spin incident as the critical turning point that altered the dynamics of the race at Iowa Speedway. This late-race event triggered a caution that disrupted the pit stop cycles, trapping faster cars including Larson’s behind slower traffic and making recovery difficult.
In a detailed explanation captured in a video shared on X by user Demarious Smellit, Daniels outlined how the spin forced an unexpected shuffle in race order. He explained that the incident placed slower cars at the front of the pack, while strong competitors who had already pitted under green flag conditions were relegated a lap down, unable to pit for fresh tires at the crucial moment.
“Cliff Daniels explains how SVG spinning out ruined the race by putting all the slow cars up front and trapping all the good cars a lap down without the ability to pit for fresh tires.” —Demarious Smellit
Daniels described the spin as a “really, really big game changer” that complicated Larson’s race strategy significantly. He noted the challenge of making progress through the field once the running order reset, with all lead lap cars grouped and pit stop opportunities limited after the caution.
“Obviously that’s a really, really big game changer,” he said.
“I would assume we’re going to be lining up around the 17 lead lap. Everybody in front of us will have pitted for tires right here, everybody behind this will be on the same cycle that we are… So yeah, she’s gonna be tough to get back up through there and we’re going to grind it out from here to me,” Daniels added.
Van Gisbergen’s Earlier Struggles and the Key Collision
Before the spin that disrupted the race, Shane van Gisbergen had faced multiple issues, including brake troubles and an earlier spin on lap 169 that resulted in heavy contact with the wall, damaging his Red Bull Chevrolet. Despite efforts to repair and regain competitive footing, his car remained compromised throughout the race.
A second spin, caused after contact with Kyle Busch, relegated van Gisbergen off the lead lap and initiated the caution referenced by Daniels. This sequence reshuffled the field, disadvantaging faster cars like Larson’s that had pitted under green and putting slower cars in front due to timing rather than speed.
Van Gisbergen finished 31st, but his spin had ripple effects, disrupting not just his own race but also others, including Kyle Larson, who had been building momentum after a strong showing at Indianapolis.
Larson and Chase Elliott’s Tight Battle Adds to the Race’s Turmoil
The chaotic Iowa race also featured a tense moment between Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott on the restart following Stage 2. While battling mid-pack, Larson’s #5 Chevrolet and Elliott’s #9 car made contact after Elliott moved low at Turn 1 and Larson turned down late. The collision sent Larson sideways, though he managed to keep control and avoid a more serious crash.
NASCAR highlighted the incident with a clip posted on X, captioned in disbelief over Larson’s recovery.
“How did (Kyle Larson) save that?!” —NASCAR
This was not the only tense moment between the two drivers during the race. Earlier, Elliott had pushed Larson toward the wall on another restart, which allowed AJ Allmendinger to take advantage by going three-wide on the inside.
Despite these incidents, Larson and Elliott had already secured their places in the NASCAR playoffs. Larson, who holds three race wins this season, trails Elliott by 15 points in the current regular-season standings. Both remain top contenders, but the events at Iowa clearly hindered Larson’s momentum.
Impact and Outlook After the Iowa Race Shake-Up
The Shane Van Gisbergen spin incident not only ended his chances at Iowa Speedway but also created a ripple effect that altered strategies and race outcomes for strong contenders like Kyle Larson. Cliff Daniels’ analysis revealed how this single moment upended the race’s natural flow, forcing teams to adapt in a tense and challenging environment.
For Larson, who had been gaining speed after near victories, the setback underscored how quickly fortunes can change in NASCAR racing. As the season progresses toward the playoffs, the lessons learned at Iowa will likely influence decisions on pit strategy and race management for his Hendrick Motorsports team.
The incident serves as a reminder of how unpredictable factors, like a single spin, can shape the competitive landscape at short tracks, affecting not just individual results but the broader championship picture.
