Shane van Gisbergen added another highlight to his list of NASCAR achievements last Sunday by finishing 10th at Kansas Speedway, marking his first top-10 finish on an oval track. The New Zealand driver, renowned for his success on road courses, overcame a series of early challenges to secure this milestone in the highly competitive NASCAR Cup Series.
Van Gisbergen Returns to Road Course Action
Van Gisbergen returned to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course this weekend for the Bank of America Roval 400, just days after making his historic top-10 finish. The event started at 3 p.m. ET and was broadcast on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, bringing van Gisbergen back to familiar ground as he aimed for his fifth consecutive road course victory. The series record for consecutive road course wins—set by Jeff Gordon—stands at six, putting Gisbergen’s pursuit into sharp focus.
Breaking Through the Oval Barrier at Kansas
While van Gisbergen is a three-time Australian Supercars champion and no stranger to racing at the highest levels, his 10th-place run at Kansas Speedway had special significance. Facing adversity from the outset, he was handed an inspection-related penalty that forced a pass-through on the opening lap and dropped him a lap down almost immediately. Still, he demonstrated resilience throughout the day, recovering to complete 111 green-flag passes—the 11th most during the race—and regaining the lead lap only after the third caution on Lap 90.
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We had a little penalty for a mistake, and then, yeah, having to be a lap down, or two laps down we ended up, and coming back was really cool,
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van Gisbergen said. “It was pretty genuine, the speed, as well. We were ahead of most of the crashes, and having a really good day.
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So, yeah, I was pretty excited. I’ve never been so excited for a top-10, but this series is tough on the ovals. Everyone’s so good, and it has taken all year for us to get up to speed. It’s just a good reward for everyone who’s helped me to get here, the spotters and crew chief. I think everyone was pretty stoked after that race. It was a cool atmosphere.
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—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Raising the Bar in NASCAR’s Top Division
Gisbergen’s performance at Kansas not only marks his best oval result so far but also proves the continuous progress he has made adapting to NASCAR’s top division. The competitive environment of the Cup Series, with drivers like Bubba Wallace and Joey Logano also vying for top honors, underscores just how meaningful this finish was, particularly for someone still adjusting from other racing disciplines.
Now looking ahead, van Gisbergen’s achievements serve as inspiration for international drivers entering NASCAR, as he continues to challenge established records and push for even greater success. With his eyes set on matching Jeff Gordon’s historic run on road courses, fans and competitors alike will be watching to see if he can reach new heights in the upcoming races, building further on his growing legacy.
