Shane van Gisbergen wins Sonoma for his third NASCAR Cup Series victory in five races, after an intense final sprint during the toyota/”>Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway in California on Sunday. The Auckland native, representing Trackhouse Racing, executed key maneuvers on the last restart, finishing ahead of Chase Briscoe by 1.13 seconds in a competitive, late dash to the checkered flag.
Key Moments and Race Progress
Van Gisbergen, already recognized as a road course specialist, continued his impressive form by matching the season win totals of Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and Kyle Larson. This victory also marked his fourth career win in just 34 starts, a pace not seen since Parnelli Jones reached four wins in 31 starts back in 1967. Notably, Sunday was van Gisbergen’s second consecutive victory and continued his dominance on road courses.
Among the top finishers were Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, and Bell, reflecting the competitive field in this six-caution event. Earlier in the weekend, van Gisbergen secured his third straight road course pole, and fourth overall, showing early control on a surface made tricky by a fresh sealer applied to the 1.99-mile, 12-turn track.
Race Developments and Notable Performances
Sunday’s action began with van Gisbergen maintaining a commanding lead for the first 22 laps of Stage 1, building a margin of nearly seven seconds over points leader William Byron. Opting for a mid-stage pit stop, van Gisbergen handed the temporary lead to Ross Chastain, who capitalized on the chance by leading at Lap 25, earning 10 bonus points.
As the stage concluded, van Gisbergen and Bubba Wallace followed Chastain, while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Byron completed the initial top five. The race’s dynamics shifted in Stage 2, particularly with 10 laps remaining, when Trackhouse Racing teammates Chastain and Daniel Suarez collided. Suarez’s defensive move led to his No. 99 spinning, prompting a tense moment on track.
Despite losing his earlier advantage, van Gisbergen managed to edge out Briscoe by over three seconds as pit stops began on Lap 52. After service, van Gisbergen overtook Kyle Larson—who led for the first time since the Memorial Day weekend event at Charlotte—and went on to claim the stage win, trailed by Kyle Busch, Wallace, and Stenhouse.
Incidents and the Final Sprint
Lap 62 sparked the first caution for cause, following two separate incidents: Chris Buescher forced Ryan Blaney into the grass, while Wallace and Hamlin spun in proximity to each other. These moments added to the drama of a race punctuated by six cautions overall, intensifying the challenge for the top contenders.
Significance of the Victory and What Lies Ahead
Shane van Gisbergen’s triumph at Sonoma not only tied him atop the series wins leaderboard for the season, but also highlighted his rapidly growing reputation as a dominant force in road course racing on the Cup circuit. With just 34 starts under his belt, his accelerated pace toward milestones underscores both his talent and the strength of Trackhouse Racing. As the series progresses, established contenders like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell will look to counter his momentum, setting the stage for tight competition moving forward at upcoming venues.
