Sonoma Raceway Cup Report: Shane van Gisbergen Dominates for Third Road Course Victory
Sonoma, CA — Shane van Gisbergen clinched victory at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, marking his third consecutive win on road and street courses in the NASCAR Cup Series. Starting from pole, van Gisbergen led 97 out of 110 laps, delivering an impressive performance that solidified Red Bull Racing’s first Cup Series victory as a primary sponsor since 2011.
“It was pretty tough stuff,” van Gisbergen remarked post-race. “We had an amazing car. Chase Briscoe was a great racer and gave me respect. The last part was tense, but I’m stoked for Red Bull, Trackhouse, and Chevy.”
The race took a turn with 15 laps remaining when Cody Ware lost a wheel, prompting a late-race caution. Van Gisbergen opted to remain on older tires, a strategy shared with 13 other competitors, while Chase Elliott, who had pitted for fresh rubber, struggled to advance due to subsequent caution flags.
Despite his efforts, Elliott managed to finish third, while Briscoe maintained his second-place position. Rounding out the top five were Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell. Tyler Reddick, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, Joey Logano, and Kyle Busch completed the top ten.
Race Summary
Stages 1 and 2:
Van Gisbergen controlled the early stages, briefly losing the lead to teammate Ross Chastain, who claimed his first stage win of the year after remaining on the track. Van Gisbergen quickly regained his footing, winning the second stage after pitting while others opted to stay out.
Stage 3 Highlights:
The final stage saw significant action, including multiple incidents that escalated tensions among drivers and pit crews. Ryan Blaney encountered trouble, getting stuck off-track due to contact with Chris Buescher. As the race progressed, van Gisbergen executed a decisive final pit stop with 26 laps to go, maintaining his lead through multiple restarts.
Final Thoughts
Van Gisbergen’s dominance at Sonoma underscores his growing prowess in NASCAR, extending Trackhouse Racing’s momentum as they continue to challenge top teams in the series. The next race will further test strategies as the competition intensifies.
