Shane van Gisbergen aimed to extend his dominance on road courses at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) this Sunday, hoping to make his mark in the Shane van Gisbergen COTA race. Despite a strong charge through the field, he finished second behind Tyler Reddick, who clinched his third straight Cup Series victory at the venue.
High Hopes at Circuit of the Americas
Competing fresh off a win in the Xfinity Series the day before, van Gisbergen entered the Cup race seeking a sixth consecutive road course triumph. The race unfolded under blue skies in Texas, and the Trackhouse Racing driver showed ambition from the start, qualifying thirteenth. Swift progress saw him finish second in Stage 1 and tenth in Stage 2, positioning himself as a real contender for the win.
Historically, van Gisbergen has delivered commanding road course performances, such as his Mexico victory last season where he won by nearly 17 seconds. At COTA, however, he faced much stiffer competition, and recognized the circuit’s demand for precision in every section.
Van Gisbergen’s Perspective on the Runner-Up Result
Although the second-place finish was not the outcome van Gisbergen hoped for, he maintained his composure and spoke candidly after the race.
“Yeah, it’s weird to be disappointed with second. But, yeah, this series is just at a high level. And I felt okay. We got our safety culture Chevy a lot better than yesterday.”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
He continued with praise for his main rival in the race.
“But just following Tyler, his driving was immaculate. And his car was very good, too. So I tried, but didn’t quite have enough. But still a great points day for the 97,”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Driver
Key Moments from the COTA Showdown
With sixteen laps to go, van Gisbergen restarted close behind Tyler Reddick, eyeing a chance to tie Jeff Gordon’s tally of six consecutive road course wins. Despite his efforts, Reddick controlled the pace and gradually pulled away, ultimately finishing 3.944 seconds ahead and keeping van Gisbergen at bay.
Reddick’s victory solidified his lead in the Cup standings, creating a seventy-point advantage over Bubba Wallace. Meanwhile, van Gisbergen’s runner-up placing delivered a valuable boost, elevating him to fifth overall in the points.
A Building Momentum for Van Gisbergen
The weekend highlighted van Gisbergen’s adaptability and skill, as demonstrated by his Saturday surge in the Xfinity race. In that contest, he worked through traffic to make critical passes, clinching the win after a strategic move in Turn 1. Sunday’s runner-up finish at COTA marked van Gisbergen’s second straight top-10 result in the Cup Series, following on from a sixth at EchoPark Speedway — his best performance on an oval to date.
This recent run marks a rebound from a challenging 30th place at Daytona earlier in the season. With consistent high finishes, van Gisbergen is strengthening his position in the championship, signaling his intent to remain a formidable presence on both road courses and traditional tracks.
Looking Ahead in the NASCAR Cup Series
The competitive spirit evident in the Shane van Gisbergen COTA race underscores just how fierce the Cup Series is this year. With top drivers like Tyler Reddick and van Gisbergen battling for wins and points, fans can expect more exciting contests as the season unfolds. As van Gisbergen and the Trackhouse Racing team refine their Chevy’s speed and handling, the New Zealander’s pursuit of a first Cup win this season remains a storyline to watch as NASCAR heads to new circuits in the coming weeks.
"Just following Tyler, his driving was immaculate. His car was very good too."- SVG talks with @ReganSmith after a P.2 at COTA pic.twitter.com/Oxrd5YSVfL
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 2, 2026
