The Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway delivered a rollercoaster ride for Kiwi NASCAR star Shane Van Gisbergen, who overcame a challenging start and persistent car issues to record his best-ever finish on an oval in the Cup Series, crossing the line in 6th place.
Rain and lightning forced the cancellation of qualifying, with NASCAR reverting to a metric formula based on recent results and championship points to set the starting grid. This left Van Gisbergen with a 28th-place start alongside Trackhouse Racing teammates Ross Chastain (21st) and Connor Zilisch (31st). Pole position went to Tyler Reddick, fresh off his Daytona 500 victory.
The race began under clear skies with gusty winds challenging the field. Joey Logano quickly moved past Reddick to lead, while Van Gisbergen surged from 28th to 24th within the first four laps. By Lap 17, he had climbed to 21st, but a mid-pack shuffle saw him drop back to 29th.
Austin Cindric executed a stunning climb from 30th to win Stage 1, with Van Gisbergen finishing 34th as car balance issues began to hamper his progress. The Top 5 for the stage were Cindric, Bubba Wallace, Kyle Larson, William Byron, and Chase Elliott.
Following pit stops, the second stage got underway with Van Gisbergen restarting in 26th. He immediately reported his car was extremely loose, struggling for grip after adjustments were made during his first pit stop.
Early cautions for incidents involving Ty Gibbs, Riley Herbst, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. provided opportunities for Van Gisbergen to move through the pack. By Lap 111, he was inside the Top 20 in 17th, and soon climbed into the top 10.
A late-race battle saw him reach 3rd before an aggressive block from Kyle Larson led to contact, spinning both drivers. Larson retired, but Van Gisbergen returned to the pits for repairs and fresh tyres. Larson took responsibility for the incident in an interview once cleared from the medical centre.
Bubba Wallace captured Stage 2, while Van Gisbergen regrouped for the final stage, restarting in 23rd as the field contended with multiple retirements and ongoing aero-balance challenges.
Van Gisbergen wasted no time climbing through the field, moving up 11 positions in just five laps to 12th, then breaking into the top 10 shortly after. However, with 60 laps remaining, he spun from 12th place due to persistent car looseness. Restarting at the back of the pack, he continued his charge despite the setback.
A series of multi-car incidents and cautions whittled the field down, leaving only 29 cars running by the closing laps. Van Gisbergen worked methodically through the chaos, advancing from 16th to 12th, then to 9th in the final laps. A two-lap overtime shootout saw further drama as Bell was punted into the wall at Turn 1, clearing the path for Reddick to take the win.
Van Gisbergen crossed the finish line in 6th place, marking a career-best oval finish in the NASCAR Cup Series and a testament to his determination and racecraft under pressure and multiple setbacks.
“I still need to be better myself with positions, but that’s awesome,” said van Gisbergen after the race.
Next up, Van Gisbergen heads to one of his favourite venues, the Circuit of the Americas, for the first road course race of the season. The Kiwi will be among the favourites, looking to build on his strong momentum from EchoPark. The race is scheduled for 9:30am Monday, 2 March NZST.
Header Image: Trackhouse Racing
