Shane van Gisbergen led Trackhouse Racing with a runner-up finish in the DuraMax Texas Grand Prix Powered by Reladyne NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (COTA) on Sunday afternoon. Teammates Connor Zilisch finished 14th while Ross Chastain was credited with a 35th-place finish.
Van Gisbergen posted his second top 10 finish in three Cup Series races at COTA and his second top 10 finish in 2026.
“Needed just a little bit of everything,” commented van Gisbergen. “We lacked a little bit of turn and a little bit of drive. Tyler (Reddick, race winner) was just amazing. The way he was driving was really good and his car was good.
“We just didn’t quite have enough, but it was a great points day for this No. 97 SafetyCulture Chevrolet team, which is what we need for getting into the Chase. It was still an amazing result, but you’re always disappointed with second when the expectations are so high. But overall, it was a really good day.”
In the first stage, Chastain led the Trackhouse Racing entries to the green from the second position. He maintained top five track position throughout the first stage before leading three laps and going on to win the stage, his first of the season.
Van Gisbergen started 13th but quickly moved his way through the front of the field, gaining six spots in six laps and finished the stage in second place, to collect stage points. Zilisch started 25th and steadily worked his way through traffic to climbed up to 16th-place. Zilisch made his scheduled pit stop on lap 17, three laps from the end of the opening segment. The move was a strategy call to give Zilisch improved track position for the start of Stage 2.
In Stage 2, van Gisbergen pitted at the stage break caution and started the stage 16th. He quickly entered the top 10 off turn 1. The No. 97 team opted to make a scheduled pit stop on lap 44, and van Gisbergen re-entered the field 10th to finish the stage.
Chastain restarted mid-pack after some drivers stayed out and he stalled the car while leaving his pit box costing him a couple of spots. He worked his way up to the 14th position and then pitted before ending the stage in 11th. Zilisch restarted eighth but was clipped by another car and spun at the entrance to Turn 1 moments after the green flag waved to begin the stage, dropping him to the tail end of the field. He had excessive tire wear from the spin and was credited with 31st-place when the segment ended.
In the final stage, van Gisbergen started fourth and fought to maintain position the first couple of laps. He battled his way into the top three, before taking the lead on lap 70 for two laps before making a scheduled pit stop.
Van Gisbergen reentered the field eighth. A caution flew with 20 laps remaining in the event. The No. 97 team opted to stay out, restarting the final 17 laps in third. Van Gisbergen quickly took over the second position and was in contention for the lead but ultimately came up one spot short.
Zilisch charged his way into contention for a top five finish in the final stage. He restarted 22nd on lap 50 and then motored his way up to fifth place by lap 66. Unfortunately, on lap 78 Zilisch was hit on the left side in Turn 1 moments after the final restart of the race and was shuffled deep in the pack. He recovered over the final 18 laps, clawing his way back into the top 20.
On lap 59, Chastain reached the seventh position before Zilisch passed him a few laps later. Chastain found himself third just before pitting on lap 71. On lap 74, Chastain lost a right rear wheel and the caution came out. He quickly made it to pit road for service and served a two-lap penalty. The penalty put him deep in the field, resulting in a 35th-place finish.
At one point in the final stage, all three Trackhouse Racing entries were running in the top 10.
The NASCAR Cup Series will return to action next Sunday, March 8 at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona.
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