Shane van Gisbergen has proven yet again he is Nascar’s king of the road, with victory in the Watkins Glen International for his fourth win of the season.
The Kiwi retook the lead with 13 laps to go in a controlled race after starting second on the grid and gotredemption after being denied on the final lap a year ago.
Van Gisbergen is the first rookie in Nascar history to win four races in a season and joins Denny Hamlin as the only other driver to have four wins in 2025.
It also puts him in second seed going into the 16-car playoffs.
Starting second behind Ryan Blaney, van Gisbergen led 38 of the 90 laps for various sections of the race in what he described as flawless.
Christopher Bell was second, more than 10 seconds back, with Chris Buescher, who stole victory from van Gisbergen 12 months ago when the Kiwi clipped a wall late, finishing third.
“That’s the stuff you dream about. I’m just a lucky guy to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute. The day just went flawlessly. I can’t believe it.”
It continues a stunning rookie season for van Gisbergen following previous road wins this season at Sonoma Raceway, Chicago Street Race and Mexico. The win also comes in the same week he announced a multi-year contract extension with Trackhouse Racing to remain in Nascar for the long term.
Shane van Gisbergen kicks a rugby ball in celebration after winning the Nascar Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Photo / Getty Images
The win was extra special for van Gisbergen, who lost his mother Karen last April, and his father Robert was at Watkins Glen to watch him race for the first time this season.
“It’s been pretty difficult. He lost his wife, my mother, then his sister and then his mum a month or so ago. It’s been a really rough run for Dad. It’s hard to support him when I’m on the other side of the world, that’s why I’m probably the most homesick. My sister’s moved away and he’s all by himself all of a sudden. I try and talk to him every day. To have him here...he was almost in tears too. It’s really special to share that because we’re a long way from home.
“It’s amazing to have him here. A tough year for dad. He hasn’t been able to travel. To have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it’s amazing,” he added.
Two races remain in the regular season before the first section of the playoffs begins on September 1 in Darlington.
The playoffs begin with three races on oval tracks, which van Gisbergen has struggled on, but if he can do enough to stay in the top 12 then the second phase of the playoffs includes a road race.
