Capture the Moment
Sep 30
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chevrolet, Nascar, SVG

SVG Grabs First NASCAR Oval Top 10

To call Shane van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series a steep learning curve on oval tracks would barely scratch the surface. But on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, the road course ace finally conquered a major milestone—and he did it the hard way. Before the green flag even dropped for the Hollywood Casino 400, van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing team was hit with a series of penalties following pre-race inspection. NASCAR cited unapproved adjustments, resulting in the ejection of crew chief Stephen Doran, the loss of pit stall selection, and a stop-and-go penalty after starting from the rear of the field. Despite the setback, the three-time Supercars champion mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing his way to his first-ever top-10 finish on an oval in the Cup Series. “It was difficult to start a lap down and have that penalty,” van Gisbergen said. “But Chais Eliason, our interim crew chief, did a great job.” SVG’s race began in chaos—serving the penalty on Lap 1 and falling two laps down during Stage 1. But the New Zealander stayed focused. A free pass on Lap 91 brought him back onto the lead lap, and from there, the charge was on. […]
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Sep 26
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Logano, Nascar

NASCAR considering eliminating playoffs system

NASCAR Reconsiders Full-Season Format, Playoffs May Be Scrapped NASCAR is reportedly weighing a dramatic shift in its championship structure: eliminating the playoff format entirely and returning to a traditional 36-race full-season points system, according to The New York Times. This approach, last used in 2003, would mark a significant departure from the current model that emphasizes high-stakes elimination rounds. What began earlier this year as a fringe proposal has gained surprising momentum among some of the sport’s most influential decision-makers. When NASCAR’s Championship Format Committee convened in February, only one member advocated for scrapping the playoffs. By the latest meeting on September 17, that idea had garnered substantial support, with several prominent voices pushing for a return to the consistency-driven system. Still, not everyone is ready to abandon the playoff concept. Some committee members favor retaining a modified version, aiming to address long-standing criticisms while preserving the drama that playoffs bring. Proposed changes include adjusting how playoff points are awarded, increasing the value of race wins, and even reimagining the final championship round. One suggestion—a four-race finale—seeks to strike a balance between fairness and excitement. Track presidents have also weighed in, noting that fan engagement tends to spike during playoff […]
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Aug 10
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, van Gisbergen, Xfinity

Van Gisbergen suffers violent Watkins Glen crash while leading

Shane van Gisbergen’s hopes of another NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Watkins Glen were dashed when contact from his JR Motorsports teammate Connor Zilisch sent him into the wall. Van Gisbergen was leading the race with 18 laps to go when Zilisch in the #88 Chevrolet Camaro went around the outside of the #9 at the penultimate turn. Zilisch ran wide and upon returning to the traditional racing line, the left front of his car clipped the right rear of van Gisbergen’s and sent him spinning. The Kubota-backed car made heavy contact with the outside SAFER barrier and ended his day early. “I’m okay. Car’s not,” van Gisbergen radioed. “Not ideal. I’m pretty gutted really,” said van Gisbergen after being released from the infield care centre. “Gutted for the JR Motorsports guys. Our car wasn’t great, but we still managed to get ourselves in a good position. “Looked great. Kubota had some cool guests here. But yeah, pretty average way to end it. “I haven’t seen it yet. I’ll watch it later and work it out, but I don’t know yet.” Prior to the crash, van Gisbergen had been playing defence. The Kiwi had been struggling with an overall lack […]
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Aug 09
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, Trackhouse, van Gisbergen

Van Gisbergen Inks Multi-Year Extension with Trackhouse Racing

Shane van Gisbergen is living out one of motorsport’s most remarkable modern fairytales—trading Supercars for NASCAR and thriving in a way few could have predicted. Following in the footsteps of fellow Aussie legend Marcos Ambrose, the Kiwi has carved out a stunning career on American soil. His NASCAR journey began in electrifying fashion in 2023, when he stunned the racing world by winning on debut in a last-lap thriller on the streets of Chicago, driving Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 Camaro. In 2024, van Gisbergen made the full-time leap to the U.S., competing in the Xfinity Series and leaving his Supercars legacy behind. By 2025, he had graduated to the Cup Series as a rookie—and wasted no time making history. With victories at Mexico City, Sonoma, and a triumphant return to Chicago, van Gisbergen tied the record for most wins by a rookie in a single season. His rapid rise has prompted Trackhouse Racing to lock in the 36-year-old with a multi-year contract extension. And for van Gisbergen, the feeling is mutual. “Trackhouse Racing feels like home,” he said. “They gave me the chance to race in Chicago back in 2023. That was just a one-off deal, but everything that’s happened […]
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Jul 07
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chicago, Nascar, van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen completes perfect Chicago weekend

It was hot in Chicago this week, but Shane van Gisbergen was even hotter. The road course ace roared to the lead on Lake Shore Drive and ran away from the field in a nine-lap shootout, winning Sunday’s third annual Grant Park 165, the NASCAR Cup Series’ Chicago Street Race. The Trackhouse Racing driver, who won Saturday’s Xfinity Race and the Cup race’s pole, got his number 88 Chevrolet past leader Chase Briscoe with 16 laps left and had a 2.5 second lead over Ty Gibbs before a caution on the final lap gave him his second win of 2025. The victory was the Auckland, New Zealand native’s third in 33 career starts and helped Chevrolet to sweep three victories in the streets of Chicago. He started the weekend by winning the pole for the Sunday race. The 36-year-old Supercars champion then backed up his first career Cup victory in the Second City in 2023 by doing it again. “What an amazing weekend for me,” said van Gisbergen, who led 26 laps and dominated the series last month on Mexico City’s road layout. “We made no mistakes, and there were some really fast cars.” Van Gisbergen said the weather was […]
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Jul 06
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Chicago, Nascar, SVG

Van Gisbergen storms to Xfinity win

Shane van Gisbergen capitalised on a late race restart to successfully defend his 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series win in Chicago in stunning fashion. Having dominated the early stages, an unfortunate break threatened to derail van Gisbergen’s quest to go back-to-back, however it was a trademark charge through the field that saw him win his first Xfinity start of 2025. Van Gisbergen started second on the final restart with two laps to go, and muscled past JR Motorsports and Trackhouse stablemate Connor Zilisch at Turn 1, winning by 0.823s. It capped off a remarkable day for the Kiwi, who also claimed pole position for both the Xfinity race and tomorrow morning’s Cup Series race. “Yeah unreal, I thought it was going to be a lost cause when the strategy went wrong, but it worked out well,” said van Gisbergen in victory lane. “Thanks to JR Motorsports, the car was a rocket, WeatherTech, Red Bull, unreal day. Awesome day.” It was a much tougher day for Jack Perkins, who barely got into the race before it all unravelled for the 38-year-old. Having started a fine fifth in his first NASCAR start, Perkins dropped back two places in the opening laps before being […]
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Jun 25
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, van Gisbergen

Broken ribs for Van Gisbergen’s tyre changer in pit blunder

One of Shane van Gisbergen’s tyre changers suffered two broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung in an ugly pit stop incident at Pocono Raceway. The incident, which took place during the latest NASCAR Cup Series race, began when Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger messed up his pit box entry. That compromised one of Allmendinger’s tyre changers and pushed the crew member into the path of van Gisbergen, who cannoned into one of the tyres and sent it flying. The stray wheel shot into Trackhouse Racing tyre changer JP Kealey and sandwiched the rattle gun between his torso and the tyre. The former professional lacrosse player fell to the ground briefly before he completed the pit stop. Speaking on NASCAR podcast Stacking Pennies, fellow tyre changer Ryan Flores broke down the incident. “The #16 team is going to miss his pit stall and go deep, he hits his tyre carrier’s tyre which launches it into the #88,” Flores explained. “John Patrick Kealey. Let’s just say it boys, this is the dog of the week because I don’t think everybody understands what happened following this pit stop. “If you watch it in slow motion you go, ‘Okay, he got hit with the […]
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Jun 16
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, Trackhouse, van Gisbergen

Kiwi van Gisbergen wins inaugural Mexico NASCAR race

Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen has mastered the Mexico City road course to score his first NASCAR Cup Series win this season and set up a shot at championship glory. The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps on Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first cup victory since his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. The former Australian V8 Supercars champion started the race ranked 33rd in the cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR’s playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship. Van Gisbergen arrived in Mexico City early Friday morning but was still awaiting many crew members who had been delayed by flights. Then he got sick late Saturday and was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday’s race. “I felt pretty rubbish today, that wasn’t fun,” he said. “Our car was amazing. That last stint, man, what a pleasure just ripping lap after lap and watching them get smaller in the mirror. Unreal.” He won pole and started the race as favourite, particularly since rain was in […]
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Jun 15
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, Trackhouse, van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen soars to Busch Light Pole in Mexico City

Shane van Gisbergen claimed his first Busch Light Pole position of the season Saturday afternoon at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and will lead the field to green in the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 Sunday in Mexico City. Smiling and referring to road courses as his “natural habitat,” van Gisbergen was quite satisfied with his work in the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet — especially considering the unknown of a first-time race at the venue. Inaugural races have been a plus on his resume. He made NASCAR history in 2023, famously winning the Chicago Street Race in his very first series start. “It was a great session for us, we kind of lacked in a lot of areas yesterday [in practice] with our car getting the balance we wanted and went through a lot of challenges last night — a couple I thought were maybe too much — and started my lap and the car felt magic right from the start,” van Gisbergen said. The pole position and positive start of the weekend could prove especially important as van Gisbergen is ranked 33rd in the championship standings, essentially needing a race victory to earn a position in the 16-driver NASCAR Cup Series […]
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Sep 29
by darren in The Feed 0 comments tags: Nascar, van Gisbergen, Xfinity

Van Gisbergen rallies to eighth in remarkable Kansas recovery

Shane van Gisbergen has delivered a master performance in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs race at Kansas. Despite starting down in 22nd and racing at Kansas for the first time, van Gisbergen produced a smashing final stage to soar to eighth and fifth amongst the Playoff contenders. It was the Kiwi’s fourth best result on an oval and could not have come at a more critical moment in the Playoffs opener where he is trying to be one of the leading eight to make the cut after the first three-race segment. Up front Aric Almirola made a late-race charge to snatch the win from Playoff drivers Cole Custer and Chandler Smith, who had words post-race. Sheldon Creed in fifth and Austin Hill in seventh were the only other Playoff drivers to finish ahead of the #97. The big Playoff victim was Justin Allgaier, who crashed out after making contact with Sheldon Creed and spinning into the inside wall from 10th on Lap 20. Van Gisbergen started 22nd after qualifying 0.948s off pole sitter Brandon Jones and had a steady opening stage, crossing the line 24th. The Kiwi crept into the top 20 in a second stage that was heavily […]
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