Shane van Gisbergen endured a bruising but determined outing at Iowa Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, showing promise early before multiple setbacks dropped him off the lead lap.
Van Gisbergen qualified 21st, highest among the Trackhouse Racing trio, outpacing teammates Daniel Suárez (26th) and Ross Chastain (28th).
During the race, van Gisbergen had quietly worked his way toward the front and was running as high as eighth when disaster struck just past halfway.
While cycling through green-flag pit stops during Stage 2, van Gisbergen lost control of his No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro on Lap 170 and backed it hard into the Turn 1 wall, bringing out the race’s first caution.
“The left rear is pretty busted,” van Gisbergen reported over the radio after the contact.
Replays showed the car stepping out under braking, sending the Kiwi sliding into the wall, a fate that had also claimed Kyle Busch in qualifying.
Earlier in the run, both his crew chief Stephen Doran and spotter had expressed concern about how aggressively SVG was entering the corner.
Despite the spin and pit stop for repairs, van Gisbergen only dropped a single lap to the leaders. However, it wouldn’t be his only challenge of the evening.
In the lead-up to the incident, van Gisbergen had voiced his frustrations over the balance of the car.
“It’s a bit of a shitbox. I don’t really know what to say,” he admitted on team radio.
“It fires off good, then gets loose in and tight in the centre.”
His bid to rejoin the lead lap fell just short multiple times. When teammate Ross Chastain earned the free pass during a later caution, SVG was left having to wait for another opportunity.
Adding to his woes, he reported worsening handling characteristics: “I’ve got massive brake shake. It’s moving around a bit. Something’s not perfect in the rear.”
Van Gisbergen appeared to be in position for the Lucky Dog during a caution just before the end of Stage 2, brought on by a Ty Dillon spin, but he was narrowly beaten to the spot by another lapped car before the caution flag officially flew.
To make matters worse, van Gisbergen later spun a second time, one of 12 cautions in the chaotic 350-lap contest, which tied the May event at Texas Motor Speedway for the most yellow flags in a Cup race this season.
While SVG’s race was turbulent, William Byron emerged victorious by perfectly managing his fuel over the final stint.
Byron led 141 laps and held off Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski in the closing laps to secure his second win of the season, his first since the Daytona 500 in February.
As for van Gisbergen, despite two spins and persistent mechanical concerns, he completed the race and salvaged what he could in a race that tested drivers physically and mentally with so many cautions.
The Iowa race marked another learning experience in his debut Cup campaign, a gritty fight that showed his resilience and determination no matter what is thrown at him.
Next up for van Gisbergen and the NASCAR Cup Series is Watkins Glen International—one of the sport’s most iconic road courses. With his proven road racing pedigree, SVG will enter the weekend as one of the clear favourites to contend for victory.
Header Image: NASCAR
