Shane van Gisbergen demonstrated his prowess in the NASCAR Cup Series race 2025 by securing his fifth win of the season, triumphing at the Charlotte Roval circuit. Taking advantage of key opportunities, van Gisbergen’s performance marked another highlight in his impressive rookie campaign with Trackhouse Racing.
Van Gisbergen Moves to the Front at Charlotte Roval
Tyler Reddick claimed the initial lead after starting from pole, but van Gisbergen quickly became a contender as the action unfolded in Charlotte. On the opening lap, Kyle Busch suffered a significant collision with the turn one wall, setting a dramatic tone for the event. Van Gisbergen capitalized on Reddick’s mistake in the back chicane on lap four, seizing the lead and continuing his pattern of leading at road courses.
“The No. 45 of @TylerReddick gets upset in the chicane, and @shanevg97 takes the lead! pic.twitter.com/jxL6uxWAq7″— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
After an early pit stop on lap 15, van Gisbergen regained control of the field by passing Chris Buescher, who had stretched his stint, and claimed his third stage win of the season. Not all went smoothly for the Trackhouse Racing team, as teammate Ross Chastain lost considerable ground after misjudging the pit exit.
Intense Mid-Race Battles and Changing Leaders
During the restart, van Gisbergen surged from twelfth, overtaking multiple competitors within a lap, while a misstep from Carson Hocevar resulted in an incident that collected Playoff contender Austin Cindric.
“A big lockup from @CarsonHocevar … and @AustinCindric is collected! pic.twitter.com/4caEgK5kqZ”— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
Progressing through the field, van Gisbergen overtook AJ Allmendinger and Buescher on lap 41, again establishing himself in the lead. Subsequent pit strategies saw the #88 car finish fifth in the stage, just behind Ryan Blaney. At the following restart, van Gisbergen faced pressure from Christopher Bell, then a crash by Austin Dillon led to a caution period.
After racing resumed, Kyle Larson and Bell managed to get ahead, with van Gisbergen struggling temporarily but quickly recovering. By lap 71, he retook second from Bell and advanced to the front again when Larson made a pit stop. However, the strategy of running longer stints cost the Kiwi some track position, dropping him to third for a short period.
Late Race Charge and Victory Secured
Van Gisbergen continued his relentless pace, passing Bell in the hairpin on lap 80 and reclaiming the front spot from Larson by lap 87. His race was not without complications, as he was forced to slow to avoid Austin Dillon while entering the pits, causing him to emerge behind key rivals. With determination, he overtook Bell again on lap 95 and began an intense fight with Larson at the front.
“Not so fast!@KyleLarsonRacin battles back! https://t.co/RsWHPTNutz pic.twitter.com/PZpXKWlHuD”— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
By lap 98, van Gisbergen once more found himself leading, though he reported an issue with the car’s right rear tyre as the closing laps approached. Nonetheless, his pace held strong, and he crossed the finish line first to secure his fifth victory in the NASCAR Cup Series race 2025.
Playoff Implications and Upcoming Las Vegas Round
The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs will continue with the Round of 8 next weekend at Las Vegas. Historically, the Las Vegas track has not been kind to van Gisbergen, who finished 29th and 34th in his two previous top-tier starts. His Xfinity Series outings at the venue were also challenging, with finishes in the high 30s.
This win at the Charlotte Roval cements van Gisbergen’s status as a notable contender for the championship, enhancing his standing in the Playoff field alongside rivals such as Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell. As the competition moves to Las Vegas, all eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if he can translate his road course dominance into success on an intermediate oval.
The No. 45 of @TylerReddick gets upset in the chicane, and @shanevg97 takes the lead! pic.twitter.com/jxL6uxWAq7
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
A big lockup from @CarsonHocevar … and @AustinCindric is collected! pic.twitter.com/4caEgK5kqZ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
Not so fast!@KyleLarsonRacin battles back! https://t.co/RsWHPTNutz pic.twitter.com/PZpXKWlHuD
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 5, 2025
