Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Kansas performance saw a determined recovery as he overcame early penalties and chaos in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, securing his first top-10 finish on an oval in the NASCAR Cup Series on Sunday. The New Zealand driver, racing for Trackhouse Racing, battled setbacks and late-race drama to ultimately finish 10th in an unpredictable event marked by numerous incidents.
Early Penalties Set the Stage for a Tough Start
Before the race began, van Gisbergen’s weekend took a difficult turn when the #88 crew faced penalties after pre-race inspection. With Stephen Doran, his crew chief, ejected from the event due to unapproved car adjustments, the team lost their pit selection. This forced van Gisbergen to start at the back and serve a stop-and-go penalty immediately as the green flag dropped. After posting 22nd in practice and qualifying 24th, these sanctions put him at a considerable disadvantage as the field got underway.
Managing Setbacks and Mid-Race Recovery Efforts
Despite these challenges, van Gisbergen managed to recover as the race unfolded. He initially fell two laps behind the leaders after his penalty, but a caution on Lap 89, caused by a collision between Ryan Preece and John Hunter Nemechek, provided a Lucky Dog free pass to regain a lost lap. During Stage 2, the track conditions proved demanding, with van Gisbergen wrestling a tight-handling car. He finished 19th in the stage, displaying persistence even as his car setup limited his pace.
Intense Action and Accidents in the Final Stage
The third stage brought more drama, highlighted by an incident when William Byron made contact with van Gisbergen, sending him into Alex Bowman. Fortunately, the #88 car escaped major damage, and van Gisbergen continued. As the laps wound down, several incidents punctuated the finish: debris from crashes involving Kyle Busch and Carson Hocevar triggered cautions, and the race headed into its first overtime after Zane Smith flipped twice following contact from John Hunter Nemechek, also involving Ty Gibbs and Josh Berry.
A red flag paused the action to allow for track repairs and cleanup from the widespread debris, setting the stage for a tense final overtime restart.
Strong Charge to the Finish in Overtime
On the last restart, van Gisbergen began ninth. He managed to hold position and crossed the line in 10th, edging out teammate Ross Chastain. This result marked his top performance on an oval track in a NASCAR Cup Series championship race and demonstrated his ability to rebound from early adversity. Afterward, van Gisbergen commented,
It’s just a process of learning; I’m getting better
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver.
Race Winner and Event Impact
The ultimate victory went to Chase Elliott, who capitalized on a dramatic collision between Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin on the final lap. Hamlin, after leading a dominant 159 laps, finished second. Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, and Wallace completed the top five, emphasizing the unpredictable and competitive nature of this event at Kansas Speedway.
Shane van Gisbergen’s impressive drive—and the chaos that defined the Hollywood Casino 400—highlighted the resilience and adaptability needed in the NASCAR Cup Series. Looking ahead, the championship continues with its Round of 12 elimination race scheduled for the Charlotte Roval on Monday, October 6, where van Gisbergen and others will aim to build on their recent successes.
Shane van Gisbergen on first oval Top 10:
"It's just a process of learning; I'm getting better" pic.twitter.com/flUy1fjVHj
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) September 28, 2025
