Shane van Gisbergen emerged victorious in Sunday’s playoff race at the Charlotte ROVAL, claiming his fifth win of the 2025 NASCAR season after an intense Kyle Larson battle highlights the event. The Auckland native overcame fierce competition during the final stage to secure the lead and ultimately crossed the finish line with an impressive 15.160-second advantage.
Thrilling Duel Between Van Gisbergen and Larson Defines Final Laps
The closing stages of the race saw Shane van Gisbergen locked in a heated battle with Kyle Larson, complicated further by Christopher Bell’s pressure. On Lap 63, Larson’s No. 5 Chevy overtook van Gisbergen’s No. 88, relegating him to third place. However, during the green-flag pit stops, van Gisbergen passed Bell and reclaimed second position. Eight laps later, van Gisbergen seized an opening at the Turn 7 hairpin, cutting to Larson’s inside and grabbing the lead.
Following alternating lead changes and several moments of significant contact, van Gisbergen managed to clear Larson definitively on Lap 98 while skillfully preserving his tires to avoid a late pit stop. Reflecting on the fierce on-track encounters, van Gisbergen remarked to NBC Sports,
“What an awesome race, Kyle and Christopher driving really good and got a little rough. But man, the battle was awesome. And we had a fast Chevy. I lost it a little bit at the start of Stage 3 and whatever they did for the rest of the race. Unbelievable. Really enjoyed that, and that was a long time waiting hoping the yellow wasn’t going to come out.” – Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
“I got (Larson) in a little bump at (Turn) 7 by accident, and he just slammed me, and that sort of set it off,” he continued. “But it was fun. I hope he’s not too pissed off.” – Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Van Gisbergen’s Winning Streak Nears Historic Milestone
This victory marks van Gisbergen’s fifth consecutive road course win, putting him one shy of Jeff Gordon’s record in the Cup Series, which Gordon set between 1997 and 2000. Kyle Larson finished a close second, with Christopher Bell completing the podium in third place. Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell rounded out the top five.
The rest of the top ten included Ryan Preece, Daniel Suárez, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, and Tyler Reddick, showcasing a highly competitive field throughout the race.
Playoff Disappointment Strikes Trackhouse Racing Despite Van Gisbergen’s Triumph
While Shane van Gisbergen celebrated success at Charlotte, his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain faced heartbreaking elimination from the playoffs on the race’s final lap. Chastain, driving the No. 2 Chevy Camaro, finished 21st, just four points behind defending champion Joey Logano.
Coming into the last lap, Chastain held a narrow one-point lead over Logano. However, after losing a position to Denny Hamlin and spinning in the final turn during a desperate attempt to regain pace, Chastain’s playoff hopes evaporated in an instant.
Expressing his frustration, Chastain said,
“It’s terrible to get to this level and not perform. When you watch and you learn and you study for half your life to get here and to fail is a terrible feeling right no,” Chastain said in a statement. “Just unforced errors. Just terrible. So it’s heartbreaking for almost 200 employees at Trackhouse.” – Ross Chastain, Driver
Trackhouse Racing’s Championship Aspirations End Prematurely
Earlier in the postseason, Shane van Gisbergen himself fell out of championship contention during the opening round. Now, with Ross Chastain also eliminated after Sunday’s race, Trackhouse Racing’s pursuit of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title has come to a disappointing close. The team must regroup after a season that showed promise but fell short in the critical moments.
The dynamic between van Gisbergen’s on-track success and Chastain’s playoff heartbreak paints a vivid picture of the tension and unpredictability within NASCAR’s current championship battle. As the playoffs progress, drivers and teams will face mounting pressure to deliver results when it matters most, emphasizing the high stakes that define this stage of the season.
