Shane van Gisbergen proved once again why he’s NASCAR’s road-course master by grabbing the pole position for Sunday’s Grant Park 165 on the Chicago Street Course. The New Zealand native pulled off a rare qualifying sweep — securing the top starting spot in both the Cup and Xfinity Series events — marking the second time he’s achieved a double-pole weekend in his brief but remarkable NASCAR career.
The three-time Australian Supercars champion delivered a stunning lap of 89.656 seconds (88.338 mph) to claim the Busch Light Pole Award. His effort held off a strong challenge from front-row starter Michael McDowell, who clocked in at 87.879 mph. Van Gisbergen’s precision in navigating the 2.2-mile, 12-turn circuit capped off a Saturday filled with momentum as he aims to follow his 2023 Chicago victory with another standout performance.
Key Highlights:
Shane van Gisbergen wins Cup Series pole with lap at 88.338 mph, securing second Cup pole of 2024
Becomes first to sweep Cup and Xfinity poles twice in career, previously at the Charlotte Roval
Michael McDowell qualifies second, followed by Carson Hocevar, Tyler Reddick, and Chase Briscoe
Bubba Wallace spins twice, qualifies 37th, while Byron, Elliott, and Hamlin fail to post laps
Katherine Legge becomes first woman to qualify for a Chicago Street Race Cup event
Van Gisbergen Pulls Off Double-Pole Feat
After nailing down the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity race, Shane van Gisbergen returned to the track with confidence and control. His final qualifying lap erased Chase Briscoe’s brief stint atop the leaderboard and sealed a spot at the front of the field for Sunday’s 75-lap Cup Series race.
“I’m a lucky boy. I got some great cars today,” van Gisbergen said. “Xfinity pole, Cup pole, pretty special. Hopeful for the race tomorrow.”
The Chicago pole marks SVG’s second of the season — his first came at Mexico City — and the third of his Cup Series career. It also matches his qualifying double at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval last fall, a testament to his growing road-course résumé in NASCAR.
“Practice wasn’t that great, and I went out in qualifying, and the car felt really good,” he added. “I learned a lot in the Xfinity car this morning, and that just gives you a great leg up for the Cup car.”
Front Row Locked by Road-Course Veterans
Van Gisbergen may be the headliner, but Michael McDowell was nearly equal to the task. The former Daytona 500 winner and road-course specialist put together a strong lap to lock in second place, just 0.468 seconds behind SVG.
Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar continued his road-course momentum by securing the third starting spot, edging out Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe. Briscoe, who topped SVG during an earlier round of qualifying, settled for fifth on the grid.
Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, and Austin Dillon filled out positions six through ten. Defending Chicago winner Alex Bowman starts just outside the top 10 in 11th.
Hocevar and Reddick’s front-row proximity adds intrigue to their In-Season Challenge matchup. Both drivers are in the hunt for tournament advancement and will have track position on their side.
Trouble Strikes Big Names in Qualifying
Several prominent Cup Series contenders faced major setbacks in Saturday’s sessions. Bubba Wallace spun twice and backed into the Turn 2 tire barrier, relegating him to a 37th-place start. Despite showing speed earlier in practice, Wallace struggled to find grip when it mattered most.
William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Denny Hamlin all failed to complete qualifying laps. Byron suffered left-rear damage after slapping the Turn 10 wall. Elliott made contact with the outside wall between Turns 3 and 4. Hamlin’s session ended before it started when his car dropped fluid and spun entering Turn 5.
All three drivers will start at the rear of the field Sunday. The damage repairs and lack of track time put them in a challenging position on a narrow, unforgiving street layout.
“I just carried too much speed into the corner,” Byron told truTV. “That’s on me. We’ll see what we can salvage tomorrow.”
Hamlin’s engine issue prevented him from setting any lap time at all. With street-course passing at a premium, strategy and survival will be critical for all three to climb the order.
Practice Results Showed Early Speed for Wallace
While Wallace’s qualifying session unraveled, his earlier speed was undeniable. He topped the charts in Group 2 practice with a lap at 87.080 mph, leading all drivers. Byron trailed closely with a best lap of 87.027 mph in Group 1. Rounding out the top five were Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Michael McDowell.
Van Gisbergen placed seventh in practice, but his ability to adapt and execute when it counts paid off in qualifying.
Additional practice incidents included Bowman suffering suspension damage, Elliott’s brush with the wall, and Byron’s crash. All three teams worked quickly to attempt repairs ahead of qualifying, though not all made it back on track.
Legge Makes Chicago Street Course History
In one of the final drama points of the day, Katherine Legge became the first woman to qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series race on the streets of Chicago. She edged out Corey Heim late in the Group B session to earn the 33rd starting spot with a lap at 85.744 mph.
Legge’s entry adds a historic note to Sunday’s field, one already packed with narratives ranging from SVG’s street-course dominance to the ongoing In-Season Challenge showdowns.
The final grid also features strong starting positions for young talents like Ty Gibbs (ninth) and veterans like Kyle Busch (sixth), creating a blend of experience and aggression that should shape a thrilling 75-lap sprint.
News in Brief: Shane van Gisbergen Claims Pole for Grant Park 165
Shane van Gisbergen continued his rise in the NASCAR Cup Series with another head-turning performance on the streets of Chicago. By securing the pole for Sunday’s Grant Park 165, SVG now owns three Cup poles in his career and two in 2024 alone. The weekend sets him up for a potential race sweep, mirroring his successful run at the Charlotte Roval last season.
Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar flank him on the front rows, while several heavy hitters — including Byron, Elliott, and Hamlin — will have to charge from the back. With rain no longer a threat and the In-Season Challenge in full swing, all eyes are on van Gisbergen to see if he can turn pole position into another checkered flag.
ALSO READ: Shane van Gisbergen Fires Back at Logano, Highlights NASCAR Road Course Skill Gap Amid Dominance
Q. Who won the NASCAR Cup race in Chicago today?
A. Van Gisbergen captures second victory at Chicago Street Race in NASCAR
Q. Who does Shane van Gisbergen drive for in NASCAR?
A. Shane van Gisbergen competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing. He recently claimed victory in the Xfinity Series race at the Chicago Street Course in July 2025. His most recent Cup Series win came in June 2025 at the inaugural event held at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
