Shane van Gisbergen continued his remarkable streak by securing his fourth consecutive pole position across NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series events, once again making headlines with a commanding qualifying performance at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday. The Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Cup pole Sonoma success marks his fourth career Cup pole and third of the 2025 season, further establishing his dominance on road courses.
Van Gisbergen Sets the Pace at Sonoma
Van Gisbergen, driving the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, delivered an outstanding lap in the critical moments of qualifying, leaving the competition trailing behind. Chase Briscoe earned a front-row start alongside him, trailing by 0.250 seconds, while William Byron, Ross Chastain, and A.J. Allmendinger completed the top five. Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, and Christopher Bell rounded out the remaining top ten qualifiers.
Following his run, van Gisbergen expressed the intensity of the achievement:
That was pretty full-on. I’m stoked to have Red Bull on the car. Thank you to Trackhouse and Chevy — amazing car. We weren’t very good in practice. New tires fixed it. So yeah, hopefully we can be good in the race. What a good day.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
This qualifying pole is especially significant for sponsor Red Bull, marking the first time their branding appears on a Cup Series pole-winning car since Kasey Kahne‘s achievement at Atlanta in September 2011. The accomplishment demonstrates a productive partnership between van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, Chevrolet, and Red Bull in a competitive field filled with seasoned names such as William Byron, Ross Chastain, and A.J. Allmendinger.
Near-Perfect Execution and Qualifying Highlights
The session unfolded without any major incidents, though there were a handful of off-track moments and a spin involving Ryan Blaney. William Byron initially set the standard in Group A with a 1:15.025, but van Gisbergen quickly reset expectations in Group B with a 1:14.833. Despite Chase Briscoe coming within 0.011 seconds on his first attempt, the three-time Supercars champion improved his own mark in a second run, recording a 1:14.594 lap as other frontrunners failed to find additional speed.
Van Gisbergen explained what it would take to convert pole position into a race win, stating he needs
a bit more rear grip and a bit better balance … just tune it up a little bit, but obviously not a bad spot to start.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Katherine Legge was the only competitor unable to post a qualifying time and will start 37th in Sunday’s race, while all other drivers had the opportunity to test themselves against van Gisbergen’s pace.
Implications for Sunday’s Race
Van Gisbergen’s pole at Sonoma, after a dominant run in both Chicago and previous events, amplifies expectations for Sunday’s race. His consistency and adaptability, especially when paired with Red Bull’s renewed visibility in NASCAR and strong support from Trackhouse Racing, position him as a clear favorite. Competitors like Chase Briscoe and William Byron remain eager to challenge his road-course supremacy as they seek to break his pole streak and capture the checkered flag.
The field is set for a highly competitive contest with major names like Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and Tyler Reddick vying for strong finishes. Sonoma’s unique layout adds an additional layer of unpredictability, but Shane van Gisbergen’s recent form and strategic insight mark him as a frontrunner to watch when the race gets underway.
