Shane van Gisbergen is heading Upstate New York and will make his second NASCAR Cup Series start at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, a 2.45-mile road course. SVG will be seeking his fourth road course victory in five starts this weekend.
Last year Van Gisbergen finished second in the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen. Having started third and in contention for the win throughout the 90-lap race, SVG and Chris Buescher had a thrilling overtime battle for the win with Van Gisbergen coming away with a second-place finish after contact with the wall on the last lap.
“I still get frustrated thinking about that race,” commented SVG. “When I make a personal mistake like that, it makes me angry to think that I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was, and we had the fastest car all day, then to do that.
“I really want to get there this weekend, make no mistakes, have a fast car and try an execute all day. Which we have been doing on the road courses, and it will be good to continue doing that.”
Before climbing in the No. 88 Chevrolet on Sunday, Van Gisbergen will pilot the No. 9 Kubota Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race. This start marks the last Xfinity race for SVG this season. One month ago he won from the pole in the No. 9 Chevrolet at the Chicago Street Circuit.
Van Gisbergen scored his first victory in a Legends car in the season finale for the Summer Shootout last week on the quarter-mile track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He took the lead away from Pro Legends division champion Jake Bollman just past halfway and held him off to secure his first ever pavement oval win.
Last weekend at Iowa, he held his own early in the race, but two spins cost him a lap and dropped him to the back of the field. He made up the lost distance and finished 31st.
After last month’s wins in Chicago and Sonoma, Van Gisbergen now sits fourth in the 2025 Cup Series Playoff Standings with 17 playoff points. The Mexico City victory locked him into the playoffs, his first-ever appearance in NASCAR’s post-season. He also clinched a playoff spot in his full-time season in the 2024 Xfinity Series.
Comments