Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand‑born driver who has been making waves in the NASCAR Cup Series, is finally finding his footing on the sport’s high‑banked ovals. This season his average finish on oval tracks has dropped to 20.9, a marked improvement from the 24.8 he posted last year.
His breakthrough came at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, where he captured his first top‑five oval result, finishing fifth. The performance lifted him to 14th in the overall standings and secured a provisional spot in the upcoming Chase.
Playoff picture takes shape
Behind van Gisbergen, other contenders are jockeying for position. Kyle Larson’s fourth‑place finish at Sonoma Raceway extended his streak to four straight top‑five finishes, while Austin Cindric currently holds the 16th and final provisional Chase spot, sitting 12 points ahead of Erik Jones and 25 ahead of Brad Keselowski.
Joey Logano, a two‑time champion, sits 31 points behind in 20th place and faces the real threat of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017, adding extra spice to the final stretch of the regular season.
NASCAR is also preparing for a high‑profile return to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. The track, silent since the pandemic, is undergoing a $5 million refurbishment that promises modernized amenities and a revived fan experience. Kyle Larson’s runner‑up finishes in the two most recent races at the venue hint at the competitive buzz already building around the event.
With the regular season winding down, the stakes are higher than ever. Teams such as Trackhouse Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Team Penske and Rick Ware Racing are all vying for the limited playoff slots, making every race a critical audition for the postseason.