Shane van Gisbergen seized victory in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, edging out his rivals by a razor‑thin 0.357 seconds – the narrowest margin of his Cup Series career and the closest finish of the season.
A nail‑biting finish reshapes the title battle
The win placed the New Zealander alongside Tony Stewart in second place on the all‑time road‑course victories list, each now boasting eight triumphs on circuits that twist and turn. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin surged past Tyler Reddick in the championship standings, now leading by a single point as the season heads into its next chapter.
Reddick’s night ended in disappointment after a mechanical failure forced him to finish last, a setback that underscored the fragility of competition on the 1.52‑mile asphalt. The upcoming eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway, scheduled for July 5, will mark the first Cup Series event at the 1.5‑mile track since 2019, promising another high‑stakes showdown on a 267‑lap, 1.52‑mile circuit.
Van Gisbergen dominated the race, leading 74 of the 110 laps, yet it was Chase Briscoe who voiced his belief that he possessed a superior car, only to see his effort eclipsed by the Kiwi’s relentless pace.