Shane van Gisbergen put on a road-course clinic once again Sunday, winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway in dominant fashion. From the drop of the green flag to the final lap, the New Zealander showed why he’s quickly become the most feared driver on road courses in NASCAR.
The victory didn’t come easy, though. Chaos, cautions, and strategy gambles turned the classic wine country race into a twisting puzzle—one that SVG solved with precision.
Key Highlights
Shane van Gisbergen wins his second Cup race at Sonoma.
Bubba Wallace charges into the top 3 after poor qualifying.
Six total cautions including multi-car wrecks and a pit road fire.
Ryan Blaney crashes after hard contact with Chris Buescher.
Josh Berry triggers multiple late-race spins.
Ty Gibbs and William Byron clash in top-5 battle.
Briscoe and SVG trade paint in pivotal moment for the win.
A Fast Start and Early Chaos
From the opening lap, Sonoma lived up to its reputation. A clean launch by van Gisbergen gave him the early edge, but mid-pack contact into turn 2 led to a chain reaction of bumping and brake-checking. Ross Chastain quickly made his way into the top 5, while drivers jostled for position on the tight and technical layout.
SVG controlled the race early, staying out under strategy calls that closed the pit lane with two to go in the stage—forcing much of the field to pit with three laps left and reshuffle track position.
Bubba Wallace Makes Moves
One of the most surprising contenders was Bubba Wallace, who overcame a poor qualifying run to fight his way into the top three. His team’s strategy combined with smart driving gave him a legitimate shot at a career-changing road course win before late-race cautions disrupted the flow.
Pit Road Strategy and Setbacks
The turning point came with late green-flag stops. The No. 88 came to pit road along with others like Kyle Larson, but blending back into traffic became difficult. A brief fire on pit road added drama—though it was quickly extinguished and no one was injured.
Meanwhile, SVG’s pit timing proved ideal, allowing him to re-enter ahead of most contenders and maintain control of the race.
Cautions Pile Up
Six cautions slowed the field, many of them featuring big names and playoff hopefuls:
Ryan Blaney crashed hard after contact with Chris Buescher, burying the No. 12 car into the tire barriers.
Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, and Josh Berry were involved in separate chain-reaction wrecks. Berry in particular drew attention for spinning out multiple cars in the closing laps.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also found the tire barrier late, bouncing off the protective wall and triggering another yellow.
Late Battles and Contact
As the laps wound down, the racing only got tougher. SVG muscled past Chase Briscoe up the hill in turn 3A after contact, setting up the final lead change of the race. Behind him, Ty Gibbs and William Byron went door-to-door for position, with Gibbs ultimately taking the spot after an aggressive inside move in turn 11.
SVG held strong through the S’s as the white flag waved. “I don’t know what the phrasing is in New Zealand for ‘woodshed,’” one broadcaster joked, “but that’s where SVG took them today.”
Victory Lane: A Familiar Face
SVG crossed the finish line cleanly and confidently. His win marks his second Cup Series victory at Sonoma and continues a red-hot stretch that includes stage wins and another road course trophy. With each performance, van Gisbergen cements his spot as the sport’s newest road-racing master.
“You are unbelievable, man. Awesome job, boys. What a run we’re on. Thank you.” SVG radioed to his team after the checkered flag
New in Brief: 2025 Sonoma Cup Highlights
This year’s Sonoma race had it all: strategy, speed, spins, and plenty of physical racing. But at the end of the day, Shane van Gisbergen’s relentless control and precision once again proved untouchable.
With the playoffs inching closer and SVG’s dominance growing, the rest of the field knows one thing for sure—on road courses, you beat SVG or you watch him win.
ALSO READ: Who Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma? Full Xfinity Race Results from Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250
