Gearbox issues and a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane compromised Shane van Gisbergen’s first NASCAR Cup race of 2024 at Circuit of the Americas, leaving the three-time Supercars champion to cross the line in 21st.
Less than 24 hours after having an Xfinity Series podium taken from him for a final lap track limits violation, van Gisbergen was back in the hunt at CoTA and was poised for a top ten result until a pit lane speeding penalty at the end of Stage 2 put him on the back foot.
He also lost first gear shortly after, which left him 31st mid-race.
Pole-sitter William Byron held off a late challenge from Christopher Bell to win, with Ty Gibbs completing the top three.
Van Gisbergen had earlier started well and remained on the fringes of the top ten throughout the first stage before boxing before the green and white chequered.
Christopher Bell took stage one honours from Daniel Suarez and Michael McDowell.
Stage 2 went green on Lap 19, with van Gisbergen initially losing ground but climbing to 11th by Lap 22. A circuit later, he entered the top ten before being called to box on Lap 25.
A speeding infringement in the pit lane incurred a pass-through penalty, and he returned to the track in 31st place on the lead lap.
Denny Hamlin took Stage 2 from Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr.
Van Gisbergen took the final restart from 20th and made good ground early, creeping to 13th as Byron took the lead off Ross Chastain at the front.
The Kiwi #16 driver lost first gear shortly after, compromising his run at least six of CoTA’s low-speed corners for the final 25 laps.
Bowman made his final stop on Lap 44, and Byron and Chastain covered from the lead a lap later, with a slower stop for the latter losing his track position. Gibbs took third following his final stop, relegating Chastain outside the podium.
Unlike the first two stages, van Gisbergen ran long before coming in for the last time and was sitting third when he did so.
Once stops were complete, Byron was back at the front from Gibbs, who had quickly worked past Bowman. Bell made a late charge and took third on Lap 61 before moving to second on Lap 66.
Van Gisbergen climbed from 25th to 21st following his final stop.
The Kiwi will be back behind the wheel of the #97 next weekend when the Xfinity Series heads to Richmond Raceway, a short D-shaped oval in Virginia.
Header Image: Kaulig Racing
The final results have SVG bumped up to 20th. I guess someone else got a penalty.