Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Spring Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway came to an early end after the Kiwi reported his #97 Kaulig Racing entry was overheating mid-way through the opening stage.
Having started 25th, van Gisbergen remained there or there abouts over the opening circuits, losing slight ground off the start and drifting to 28th as the field fell into single file.
Chandler Smith was the early pacesetter, putting a small gap over John Hunter-Nemechek and Daytona and Atlanta winner Austin Hill.
The first caution came eight laps in when Parker Retzclaff took contact and damage at the exit of Turn 4 while running in the top ten.
Van Gisbergen had returned to 25th when the yellow was called and took the Lap 14 restart in 23rd. He lost slight ground off the restart before reporting his issue and returning to the pit lane under green.
Smith went on to win the opening 45-lap stage from Nemechek, Hill, Riley Herbst and Cole Custer.
Van Gisbergen remained in the garage and did not return to proceedings to be classified 37th.
Nemechek pulled clear over the final stage for a comprehensive victory from Custer and Smith, with van Gisbergen’s Kaulig Racing teammate AJ Allmendinger sixth.
Header Image: Kaulig Racing
