• Latest
  • Trending

Van Gisbergen fights his way back to sixth in COTA Cup Race

March 3, 2025

Zach Blincoe targets championship glory in second GR86 season

September 2, 2025

Drivers gearing up for 2025 Bathurst 1000

September 2, 2025
ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 30: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 30, 2025 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202508300093 // Usage for editorial use only //

Red Bull’s Driver Dilemma: Hadjar emerges as contender while Tsunoda faces deadline

September 2, 2025
94 DUVAL Loic (fra), JAKOBSEN Malthe (dnk), Peugeot TotalEnergies, Peugeot 9X8 #94, Hypercar, action during the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo 2025, 5th round of the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship, from July 11 to 13, 2025 on the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Photo Fabrizio Boldoni / DPPI

Nick Cassidy joins Peugeot for 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship

September 2, 2025

Briscoe wins at Darlington as Van Gisbergen struggles to 32nd in brutal playoff opener

September 1, 2025

Callum Hedge out of race after heavy crash at Nashville Raceway

September 1, 2025

McLaughlin ends season on a high with podium finish as Newgarden wins thrilling Nashville finale

September 1, 2025

‘Not His Corner’: Lawson explains Dutch GP collision with Sainz

September 1, 2025

Piastri dominates Dutch GP as Hadjar secures maiden podium and Ferrari suffer double DNF in dramatic race

September 1, 2025

Lawson’s Dutch GP hopes shattered after clash with Sainz

September 1, 2025

Dixon Leads the Way: Kiwi qualifying highlights from the Music City Grand Prix

August 31, 2025
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
VelocityNews
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time updates on Kiwi drivers, events and much more!
Subscribe to New Alerts
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Van Gisbergen fights his way back to sixth in COTA Cup Race

by Jayden Aben
March 3, 2025
in NASCAR
1

Shane van Gisbergen secured a commendable sixth place in the 95-lap NASCAR Cup race at Circuit of the Americas this morning, though tyre issues hindered his chances for victory.

Van Gisbergen began the race with strong momentum, gaining two positions by the end of the first lap. By Lap 2, he had passed Carson Hocevar at Turn 1, moving into the top three.

With the leaders, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, in sight, van Gisbergen intensified his efforts. By Lap 5, he pressured Wallace into a critical mistake, resulting in a penalty that dropped Wallace to eighth and allowed van Gisbergen to ascend to second place.

As he continued to pursue Reddick, van Gisbergen narrowed the gap from 1.4 seconds to just two-tenths by Lap 9. He then executed a decisive pass at Turn 6A on Lap 10, claiming the lead of the race.

Maintaining his position over Kyle Busch, who was now in second, van Gisbergen continued to lead as he approached the final laps of Stage 1.

Both drivers then made their first pit stops on Lap 18, exiting the pits almost side by side. Van Gisbergen narrowly retained his lead, but ultimately finished Stage 1 in third, behind Wallace and Joey Logano, who opted to stay out for stage points.

At the start of Stage 2, van Gisbergen took the lead when the top drivers pitted. Although Busch surged ahead at the restart, Van Gisbergen was briefly able to defend his position before Busch reclaimed the lead at Turn 1 on the following lap.

Busch began to pull away, but van Gisbergen fought back, retaking the lead on Lap 35. He held onto it for eight laps before making his second pit stop. Busch followed him in and ultimately got around van Gisbergen as they exited the pits, seizing the effective lead with just two laps remaining in Stage 2.

Van Gisbergen leading Reddick and Busch during the race today at Circuit of the Americas. Image: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images (Supplied NASCAR)

The stage concluded on Lap 45, with non-stopping drivers Ryan Preece, Ryan Blaney, and Michael McDowell staying out for stage points while van Gisbergen finished fifth.

As Stage 3 commenced, Preece and Blaney pitted, leaving McDowell in the lead. Starting third in this stage, van Gisbergen quickly lost a position to A.J. Allmendinger at the restart, but managed to regain a spot in the top three by passing the struggling McDowell.

Shortly afterwards, a collision between Trackhouse teammates Daniel Suarez and Connor Zillsch prompted another yellow flag. When the race resumed on Lap 54, van Gisbergen struggled with his cold tyres and slipped to sixth. Then as the front runners started to make their final pit stops, van Gisbergen chose to stay out to give him fresher tyres for the final stint.

With 21 laps remaining, he made his final stop, rejoining in eighth position, over 15 seconds behind the leaders.

Just three laps later, it seemed as though van Gisbergen’s progress was limited, but a caution for Austin Dillon’s spin with 18 laps to go provided him an opportunity to showcase his fresh rubber.

Unfortunately, when the race restarted five laps later, he struggled once again with tyre performance, dropping to tenth place on the restart. Despite these challenges, van Gisbergen fought hard in the final laps, managing to reclaim sixth on the final lap, following his move on Chris Buescher.

Christopher Bell emerged as the victor of the race, followed closely by William Byron, Reddick, Chase Elliott, and Busch, with van Gisbergen crossing the finish line in sixth place.

Despite not achieving the result he had hoped for, van Gisbergen put forth a commendable effort, earning a solid total of 45 points—second only to Busch in terms of points accrued during the race.

After Round 3 of the season at Circuit of the Americas, van Gisbergen has climbed to 18th in the overall standings, now 53 points behind Series Leader Byron.

He will return to the track this weekend for Round 4 of the season, competing at Phoenix Raceway on the 1.645-kilometer dogleg oval.

Header Image: Shane van Gisbergen Facebook

Tags: Circuit of the AmericasNASCAR Cup SeriesShane Van GisbergenTrackhouse Racing

Comments 1

  1. Michael Hodgson says:
    6 months ago

    Thanks for the report which is WAY more positive in terms of SVG’s performance, than the Fox sport extended highlights package indicated. My impression was he hadn’t done that well as he was barely seen or mentioned in that item. Does Fox sport not like the fact there is a foreigner in their sport.

    Gotta say love Velocity in keepin’ us to date as to what our driving stars are up to. There so much to follow these days as there is so many NZers racing internationally in all sorts of series, so its handy you collate these all together. ePrix however fly’s under the radar somewhat, their web site is err shite, their highlights package is woeful its hard to be a fan of that series sometimes…Anyway catch ya later

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

error:
No Result
View All Result
  • International
    • Formula 1
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • Formula E
    • Esports
    • Super GT
    • Super Formula
    • TCR
    • WEC
    • GT
    • Porsche Carrera Cup
    • BTCC
    • DTM
    • IMSA
    • IndyCar
    • Road to Indy
    • NASCAR
    • WRC
    • MotoGP
    • Motorcycle Racing
    • Historic Racing
  • New Zealand
    • Toyota Formula Regional
    • Toyota GR86 Championship
    • Rally
    • Speedway
    • Drifting
    • Formula Ford
    • Formula First
    • TCR NZ
    • TransTasman V8 Series
    • V8 Utes
    • GT New Zealand Championship
    • GTRNZ
    • Central Muscle Cars
    • Pirelli Porsche
    • Mazda Racing Series
    • NZ Endurance Championship
    • NIERDC
    • SIERDC
    • Pro8 South Island Series
    • SsangYong Utes
    • Kartsport
    • NZ Historic Racing
    • NZ General
  • Australia
    • Supercars
    • Super2
    • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
    • Porsche Carrera Cup Australia
    • Porsche Sprint Challenge
    • S5000
    • Australian GT
    • TCR AU
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Circuit News
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2022 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.