Shane van Gisbergen didn’t just win in Chicago—he joined elite company. The Trackhouse Racing driver pulled off a rare NASCAR feat, one that hadn’t been seen in nearly a decade. And it didn’t come easy. From hot laps to hot tempers, from stage wins to late-race chaos, the weekend brought it all. But by Sunday afternoon, the spotlight belonged entirely to one driver—and the record books had a new entry.
Key Highlights
Shane van Gisbergen becomes second driver ever to sweep Cup and Xfinity races from the pole
Saturday’s win came after aggressive move on Connor Zilisch in The Loop 110
Sunday’s victory marked SVG’s second Cup win of the 2025 season
Post-race caution nearly threatened victory, but SVG crossed the line just in time
SVG jumped to 27th in standings, solidifying his road course reputation
Another Historic First for Shane van Gisbergen
Shane van Gisbergen etched his name next to Kyle Busch in the NASCAR record books on the streets of Chicago. With victories in both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, each from the pole position, SVG became just the second driver in history to sweep both of NASCAR’s top divisions from the front of the grid on the same weekend. The only other to do it was Kyle Busch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2016.
Sunday’s Grant Park 165 was no easy win. Michael McDowell came out strong, taking Stage 1, but mechanical trouble ended his day early. That opened the door for Shane van Gisbergen, who made his move with 16 laps to go and never looked back.
His clean laps and calm under pressure carried him through two late cautions. One of them, caused by Cody Ware hitting the Turn 6 tire barrier, nearly triggered overtime. But SVG reached the white flag just in time, freezing the field and securing the win.
“What an amazing weekend for me. Lucky guy to drive some great cars. I thank Trackhouse, WeatherTech Chevy, and all these guys and girls here—what an amazing weekend.”
“I guess we made no mistakes. There were some really fast cars, and we just seemed to get it right.” – Shane van Gisbergen
Saturday Spark: Xfinity Drama Adds Edge to Sweep
The sweep began Saturday in the Xfinity Series with The Loop 110, and it wasn’t without drama. Shane van Gisbergen started on pole and found himself battling teammate Connor Zilisch in the final laps. With two laps remaining, SVG forced Zilisch wide into Turn 1. The move sent the young driver into the wall, allowing SVG to pull away and win.
“Yeah, he’s a great young driver… I thought that was my opportunity and took it, and yeah. It was an awesome 1-2 for the team,” SVG told CW Sports.
"I love this place."
We bet you do, @shanevg97. 🏉 pic.twitter.com/WKI4h8vaoX
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 6, 2025
While the contact stirred debate, the win underscored SVG’s racecraft. The weekend double extended his reputation as a road course specialist. With this Xfinity win added to his growing total, SVG proved once again he could be aggressive when needed—and calm when it counted.
The move also added tension to a possible 2026 pairing. With Daniel Suárez set to leave Trackhouse Racing, development driver Connor Zilisch is widely expected to join the Cup roster. That would make Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen teammates in just over a year.
Road Course Reputation Reaches New Heights
Sunday’s Cup Series victory wasn’t just another trophy—it was a statement. Shane van Gisbergen, already the winner of the Mexico City race earlier this season, now owns two road course victories in 2025. His ability to handle street circuits, mixed conditions, and fierce competition has made him one of the most feared drivers on these layouts.
Despite a wreck in last year’s Chicago Street Race, SVG returned stronger and smarter. This time, his car remained untouched, and his strategy was near perfect.
“Make no mistakes, be smooth every lap… It was just so hot this weekend. The track was very slick, the times were a lot slower, and the margin for error was very tiny. Just had to get it right.” – Shane van Gisbergen
His performance also impacted the points race. SVG climbed five spots in the standings, now sitting at 27th. Though still outside the playoff cutline, his two wins may yet change the equation if more chaos hits other contenders.
.@shanevg97 soaks it in at @Mobil1 Victory Lane! pic.twitter.com/9wTpHuztYR
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) July 5, 2025
Meanwhile, Kyle Busch matched his season-best finish by taking fifth, further validating the competitive field SVG outran.
News in Brief: Shane van Gisbergen Makes NASCAR History
Shane van Gisbergen made NASCAR history by sweeping the Cup and Xfinity Series races at Chicago Street Course from the pole, a feat previously achieved only by Kyle Busch. His Cup win came after taking the lead with 16 laps to go and avoiding a late caution-triggered overtime. The weekend also featured drama in the Xfinity race after SVG ran teammate Connor Zilisch wide to win. With two Cup victories in 2025, SVG climbed to 27th in the standings and solidified his road course dominance.
ALSO READ: Shane van Gisbergen Claims Pole for Grant Park 165 with Blistering Chicago Street Run
