Shane van Gisbergen claimed victory in Sunday’s playoff race at the Charlotte ROVAL, marking his fifth win of the 2025 season. However, the road to victory was far from easy. An intense battle unfolded between Gisbergen and Kyle Larson during the final stage, with the Auckland native eventually seizing the lead and pulling away to the checkered flag by an impressive 15.160-second margin.
Gisbergen’s challenge was intensified by Christopher Bell, who followed Larson closely on Lap 63 as the No. 5 Chevy overtook Gisbergen’s No. 88. It wasn’t until a cycle of green-flag pit stops later that Gisbergen managed to pass Bell for second place. About eight laps afterward, the Cup Series rookie spotted an opportunity at the Turn 7 hairpin, veering to Larson’s inside and snatching the lead.
The final laps saw multiple lead changes and some significant contact between Gisbergen and Larson. Ultimately, Gisbergen cleared Larson on Lap 98 and stretched his tire life enough to avoid another pit stop, securing his lead.
Reflecting on the fierce battle with Larson and Bell, Shane van Gisbergen told NBC Sports, “What an awesome race. Kyle and Christopher were driving really well and got a little rough, but man, the battle was awesome. We had a fast Chevy. I lost it a little bit at the start of Stage 3, but whatever they did for the rest of the race was unbelievable. I really enjoyed that. It was a long time waiting, hoping the yellow wouldn’t come out. I got (Larson) in a little bump at (Turn) 7 by accident, and he just slammed me, which sort of set it off,” he continued. “But it was fun. I hope he’s not too pissed off.”
With this win, Shane van Gisbergen now boasts five consecutive road course victories — just one shy of Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Cup Series record set between 1997 and 2000.
Larson finished second, followed closely by Bell in third. The rest of the top five were rounded out by Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell. Completing the top 10 were Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, and Tyler Reddick.
### Mixed Emotions for Trackhouse Racing as Playoff Hopes Fade
While Shane van Gisbergen celebrated his triumph at Charlotte, another story of heartbreak unfolded for Trackhouse Racing. Ross Chastain, driving the No. 2 Chevy Camaro, was eliminated from playoff contention on the final lap of the 109-lap event.
Chastain crossed the finish line in 21st place, four points shy of securing a spot over Joey Logano, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion. Entering the final lap, Chastain held a slim one-point advantage over Logano, but that advantage evaporated when he lost a position to Denny Hamlin and spun in the final turn during a desperate attempt to reclaim the lead.
“It’s terrible to get to this level and not perform,” Chastain said in a statement. “When you watch, learn, and study for half your life to get here and then to fail is a terrible feeling, right now. Just unforced errors. Just terrible. So it’s heartbreaking for almost 200 employees at Trackhouse.”
This disappointment comes after Shane van Gisbergen himself had fallen out of playoff contention in the opening round. With both drivers eliminated, Trackhouse Racing’s bid for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship abruptly ends.
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Stay tuned for more updates as the playoffs continue to intensify.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-shane-van-gisbergen-opens-rough-road-charlotte-victory-kyle-larson-christopher-bell