Shane van Gisbergen’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoff run came to a frustrating halt at Bristol, leaving the Kiwi reflecting on a night full of chaos and misfortune. After spinning twice and battling extreme tire wear, van Gisbergen finished 26th, far from the mark he had hoped to reach. Despite his team’s efforts, the Trackhouse Racing driver couldn’t overcome the challenges thrown his way, and his playoff hopes ended with Bristol as the cutoff line claimed four drivers, including the Kiwi.
Key Highlights
Shane van Gisbergen eliminated from the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs after finishing 26th at Bristol.
Van Gisbergen spun twice due to contact with William Byron and Kaulig Racing’s #10 Camaro.
Tire wear issues affected van Gisbergen throughout the race, requiring extra sets from Goodyear.
Christopher Bell won the Bristol race, leading a Toyota sweep of the Round of 16.
Eliminated drivers included Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, and Shane van Gisbergen.
Spins and Setbacks
Van Gisbergen’s night began with a major setback on Lap 238 when William Byron’s #24 Hendrick Motorsports Camaro spun him after going three laps down. Later, Lap 269 brought a second spin caused by the #10 Kaulig Racing Camaro making contact with the #88 Camaro.
“I mean, fuck. What is he thinking?” – Shane van Gisbergen
Those incidents compounded the challenges van Gisbergen faced, forcing him to fight from the back while coping with a tight-handling Camaro that loosened only later in the race.
Tire Troubles and Team Support
The Bristol race was defined by extreme tire wear, prompting NASCAR and Goodyear to allocate extra sets to every car. Van Gisbergen was particularly affected, spending much of the race managing his tire performance. His crew chief, Stephen Doran, offered encouragement during the rough night.
“Thanks for hanging in there all night man. Good job recovering a little bit at the end.” – Stephen Doran
Van Gisbergen humbly responded to his team’s support.
“Nah, thank you guys. Sorry I’m not good enough. If I get better at this shit, we’ll have a crack next year. Thanks for having a good go at it with me.” – Shane van Gisbergen
Despite his struggles, the Kiwi maintained composure and acknowledged his own limitations while looking toward future opportunities.
Race Recap and Final Laps Drama
The final laps of the 500-lap Bristol event were punctuated by high-speed incidents. Bubba Wallace crashed in Turn 1 on Lap 488 after Brad Keselowski bumped Cole Custer, triggering a chain reaction. The restart with four laps to go saw Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith leading the field, with Alex Bowman in third and Keselowski advancing to second. Christopher Bell surged past the leaders to take the checkered flag, completing a dominant Toyota performance alongside Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin.
“Well, I’ll tell you what, I was nervous on the choose…old tyres just really, really pushed up in the middle of the corners so I was hoping that those guys on old tyres would push up and they did.” – Christopher Bell
Bell’s victory was a combination of strategy, timing, and opportunism in the closing laps, giving Toyota a sweep of Round of 16 wins.
Eliminations and Playoff Implications
Bristol marked the end of the line for four drivers in the Round of 16. Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Josh Berry, and Shane van Gisbergen were all eliminated, with van Gisbergen finishing as the second driver below the cutoff line. The outcome shifts the playoff landscape heading into the Round of 12, intensifying the competition among the remaining drivers.
The Trackhouse Racing driver now turns his attention to the next race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Monday, September 21 (AEST), hoping to regroup and build momentum for the 2026 season.
News in Brief: SVG Humble After Bristol Spins: “Sorry I’m Not Good Enough”
Shane van Gisbergen’s playoff hopes ended at Bristol after spinning twice and battling extreme tire wear in his Trackhouse Racing Camaro. He finished 26th as Christopher Bell won the race, leading a Toyota sweep alongside Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin in the Round of 16. Other drivers eliminated were Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry. Despite strong support from his crew, van Gisbergen acknowledged his struggles, promising to improve next year. His season continues at New Hampshire on September 21. Stay updated with all playoff developments and driver news here.
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