On September 28, Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand driver known for his dominance on road courses, stunned NASCAR fans by securing his first top 10 finish on an oval, coming in 10th at Kansas Speedway. This milestone in Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR competition marks a significant breakthrough in his rookie full-time Cup Series season and raises expectations about his future performances on oval tracks.
Though van Gisbergen’s finish was impressive in its own right, the journey to the top 10 was anything but typical. He faced a stop-and-go penalty for inspection violations at the race’s start and lost his crew chief, Stephen Doran, which placed the No. 88 Red Bull team at a major disadvantage. Accordingly, van Gisbergen fell a lap behind early on in the race.
Remaining a lap down through the end of stage one, van Gisbergen capitalized on a caution on lap 90 to regain his spot in the lead lap during a free pass. He restarted the race from 35th and began a steady climb through the field. By the end of stage two, he had moved into the top 20, finishing 19th for that segment.
Van Gisbergen continued his determined progress in the final stage, breaking into the top 15 and eventually the top 10 as the laps wound down. Despite a late-race incident where he squeezed Alex Bowman into the turn 2 wall on lap 227, he persevered, running eighth before a late caution set the stage for an overtime restart. Maintaining his composure during the frantic final laps, van Gisbergen held onto his position to claim the historic top 10 finish on an oval.
Signs of Progress: Van Gisbergen’s Growing Oval Competence
Over the past month, performance improvements on ovals by the No. 88 team have been quietly gathering notice. After a respectable 14th-place finish at Richmond Raceway, van Gisbergen exhibited further growth by running inside the top five at New Hampshire Motor Speedway before a late wreck took him out. Though his playoff run ended after the Round of 16, this progression suggests that van Gisbergen is rapidly closing the gap on mastering oval racing.
With such a trajectory, many expect van Gisbergen to be a formidable competitor on ovals by 2026. His natural talent and adaptability hint at a future where his road course excellence translates into consistent success across all NASCAR circuits.
Unexpected Performances from Underdogs at Kansas
Kansas Speedway may seem like a cookie-cutter track, but the tight racing and late-race chaos transformed Sunday’s event into an opportunity playground for several underdog teams to rise above expectations. As the race neared its conclusion, numerous drivers escaped the turmoil to score impressive finishes.
Todd Gilliland, whose day started poorly with 33rd and 29th-place stage finishes, managed to claw back from adversity to snag 12th at the finish. After regaining a lost lap and steadily improving his car’s performance, Gilliland avoided late incidents and capitalized on a free pass with 14 laps remaining.
Holy smokes. We sucked all day but got a bit better for the end and came home p12. https://t.co/mXarkWfKZR
— Todd Gilliland
This marked a career-best performance for Gilliland at the 1.5-mile Kansas track, equaling his toughest 12th-place result from the spring and creating a two-race streak of top 20 finishes, his first such run since earlier in the season.
Ty Dillon also stood out, securing his best Kansas finish by placing 13th. Dillon endured a challenging race, starting 33rd and struggling with car handling and track position before surviving a pileup that eliminated his Kaulig Racing teammate AJ Allmendinger. He pushed forward to gain five positions on the final restart and completed the day inside the top 15 for the first time since July.
Michael McDowell also overcame an initial stop-and-go penalty for inspection infractions, navigating a tough race to finish 14th. After receiving the free pass following stage one, McDowell struggled initially but improved after adjustments during the final stage. Avoiding damage in the late-race chaos, he achieved his seventh top 20 finish in the last eight races, strengthening his momentum for upcoming events.
P14. Road course on deck. pic.twitter.com/Mv9aQUSjKd
— Michael McDowell
Erik Jones added to the recovery narrative, rising from a penalty for an uncontrolled tire to finish 16th. Despite strong practice sessions and qualifying 10th, Jones fell to 23rd after the opening stage and incurred a penalty that put him two laps down. Benefitting from wave-around opportunities and timely cautions, he made a late charge and secured a solid result for the Legacy Motor Club team.
From 2 laps down to P16, @Erik_Jones fought until the very end. pic.twitter.com/mJSdL8E5Cx
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
Other drivers, including Justin Haley and Cole Custer, capitalized on disruptions to post top-20 finishes as well, rounding out a race filled with chances for those outside the frontrunners.
A Dramatic Incident: Zane Smith’s Spectacular Crash at Kansas
Zane Smith entered Kansas with hopes of a top 10 finish after strong runs during the day and reaching eighth position late in the final stage. Unfortunately, a dramatic accident dashed those hopes and turned the race’s narrative toward safety concerns.
With less than 10 laps remaining and during the first overtime restart, John Hunter Nemechek lost control and collided with Smith’s left rear. The impact flipped Smith’s car onto its left side, sending it sliding through turns 3 and 4 before rolling twice down the banking and coming to rest on its roof.
[I’ve] never flipped a stock car,
Zane Smith told Frontstretch.
Miraculously, Smith climbed from the wreckage under his own power, a powerful testament to NASCAR’s safety improvements despite the violent nature of the crash.
Zane Smith exited the vehicle under his own power after this incident late at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/vbF4OXvROl
— NASCAR
Got cleaned out by none other than JHN
— Front Row Motorsports
The Underdog Standings and What’s Next at Charlotte
The race’s chaos influenced the latest underdog power rankings ahead of the challenging Charlotte ROVAL event. Carson Hocevar appeared set for his first Kansas top 10 before incidents derailed his race, leaving him with a 29th-place finish. He now turns to Charlotte, where he earned 12th in his debut last year.
Michael McDowell continues to build strong momentum with consistent finishes and an ability to recover from setbacks, posing a serious threat at the ROVAL despite a lack of top 10s there in previous attempts.
Most notably, Shane van Gisbergen’s arrival as a competitor on ovals looms large. His sixth consecutive top road course finish and recent oval success establish him as a dangerous challenger, with expectations high for another strong run in Charlotte’s road course-oval hybrid.
Erik Jones made a commendable comeback after his penalty and retains some promise at the ROVAL, having finished third there in 2020. Meanwhile, Zane Smith’s wild crash may dampen his momentum, although he aims to regroup and run cleanly on the tricky Charlotte circuit.
Honorable mentions include Justin Haley, Noah Gragson, and Ty Dillon, all drivers who gained valuable experience and competitive positioning during the race at Kansas.
Creative Sponsorship and Team Identity at Kansas
The ongoing presence of smaller teams fighting for recognition shone through with Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 Ford Mustang, which carried a sponsorship from potato chip producer Guy’s Snacks Corporation and featured Dean’s Dip branding. Despite green cars being considered unlucky in racing folklore, Gilliland defied superstition to deliver his best Kansas result to date.
Toddfather back on the lead lap. Wanting that Top-10@deansdip pic.twitter.com/2AHRl87EMV
— Front Row Motorsports
The branding added unique flavor to the race and spotlighted how these teams creatively leverage partnerships to stay competitive and visible in the NASCAR ecosystem.
Looking Ahead: Building on Breakthroughs and Navigating Challenges
Shane van Gisbergen’s breakthrough top 10 on an oval signals an important shift in his NASCAR career, reinforcing his rare adaptability across diverse track types. Meanwhile, other drivers’ perseverance amid chaos at Kansas reflects the unpredictable nature of stock car racing, where opportunity and disaster often intertwine.
As the series moves forward to events like the Charlotte ROVAL, the gains by drivers like van Gisbergen, McDowell, and Gilliland provide fresh storylines and heightened intrigue. Fans and teams alike will watch closely as these racers build on their momentum or seek recovery after setbacks such as the dramatic wreck suffered by Zane Smith.
Ultimately, the persistence shown by both seasoned competitors and underdogs at Kansas underscores the fast-evolving competition taking shape in NASCAR, with new faces rising and veterans fighting to maintain their edge.
Holy smokes. We sucked all day but got a bit better for the end and came home p12. https://t.co/mXarkWfKZR
— Todd Gilliland (@ToddGilliland_) September 28, 2025
P14. Road course on deck. pic.twitter.com/Mv9aQUSjKd
— Michael McDowell (@Mc_Driver) September 29, 2025
From 2 laps down to P16, @Erik_Jones fought until the very end. pic.twitter.com/mJSdL8E5Cx
— LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (@LEGACYMotorClub) September 28, 2025
Zane Smith exited the vehicle under his own power after this incident late at @kansasspeedway. pic.twitter.com/vbF4OXvROl
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 28, 2025
Got cleaned out by none other than JHN
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) September 28, 2025
Toddfather back on the lead lap. Wanting that Top-10@deansdip pic.twitter.com/2AHRl87EMV
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) September 28, 2025
