Shane Van Gisbergen secured his fifth consecutive road course victory this NASCAR Cup Series season at the Charlotte Roval on Sunday, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination despite intense pressure. The No. 88 Chevrolet Trackhouse driver battled through 109 laps on the 2.28-mile, 17-turn circuit, fending off strong challenges to maintain his winning streak.
Van Gisbergen’s Tough Duel with Kyle Larson
Throughout the race, Van Gisbergen controlled much of the action by leading 57 laps, but his toughest competition came from Kyle Larson, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. The two drivers engaged in a fierce battle late in the event, with Larson ultimately surrendering the lead with 12 laps to go and settling for second place.
Playoff drivers Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Toyota, Chris Buecher in the No. 17 Ford, and Micheal McDowell in the No. 71 Chevrolet completed the top five finishing positions, showcasing a mix of contenders and non-contenders fighting hard at the front.
Van Gisbergen Reflects on Intense Racing Moments
“What an awesome race, Christopher and Kyle drove me really well and it got it a little rough,”
Shane Van Gisbergen said.
“But man, the battle was awesome. Unbelievable, I really enjoyed that. It was a long time waiting and hoping the yellow wasn’t going to come out.”
“I gave him (Larson) a little bump and sent him back and he gave me a slap that kind of set it off. I’m all for it, it was fun and I hope he’s not too pissed off.”
“It was pretty aggressive racing there. You enjoy a battle, but you always want to win. It was frustrating when they were passing me at the beginning of the final stage.”
With this victory, Van Gisbergen is closing in on NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon’s record of six consecutive road course wins, making the achievement even more significant.
Drivers Advancing to the Playoff Round of 8
The Playoff field has now narrowed to eight drivers who will compete for a spot in the Final Four Championship showdown. Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney secured their places with wins at Kansas Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway, respectively. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Joey Logano advanced based on their points standings.
The battle for the final spot was dramatic, with Logano edging out Ross Chastain by four points after a tense last-lap spin involving Chastain and Hamlin. Chastain had led by two points when the white flag flew, but the on-track incident ultimately shifted the advantage to Logano.
Drivers Out of Playoffs Now Focus on Race Wins
Four drivers—Ross Chastain, Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Austin Cindric—are eliminated from Playoff contention and will concentrate solely on winning upcoming races. Cindric’s chances were dashed after rear-end damage to his No. 2 Ford caused by contact with Carson Hocevar.
Upcoming NASCAR events at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, and Martinsville Speedway will play critical roles in deciding which drivers reach the Final Four round.
