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Van Gisbergen equals career-best NASCAR oval finish
Sport Nation • July 20th, 2026 3:59 pm
Shane van Gisbergen | Photo: Photosport
Shane van Gisbergen has continued to prove he is far more than a road-course specialist, matching his career-best NASCAR Cup Series oval finish with fifth at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
After starting the 450-lap race from grid 8 on Monday (NZ Time), the Kiwi finished behind race winner Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs.
Logano dominated the race, leading a career-high 323 laps to claim North Wilkesboro’s first points-paying Cup Series race since 1996.
Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, quietly crafted one of the strongest all-round oval performances of his Cup career, running near the front for much of the race and leading 49 laps before coming home fifth.
The Trackhouse Racing driver also picked up points across both stages, finishing second to Ty Gibbs in Stage 1 and fifth in Stage 2.
Since arriving in NASCAR, SVG has quickly built a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous road-course drivers, with eight wins at NASCAR’s top level. But his latest result was another sign his oval development is continuing to gather momentum.
Van Gisbergen was also the leading Trackhouse Racing car at the finish, with teammate Daniel Suárez coming home ninth and Ross Chastain finishing 27th after starting from the rear due to inspection issues.
The high placed finish and stage results combine to earn van Gisbergen 47 championship points and sitting him 14th of 40 drivers.
