When NASCAR fans hear the name Shane van Gisbergen, they usually reference his uncanny ability to dominate on road courses. However, the mastery seen on Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the Cup Series Window World 450 spoke volumes about his improvement on ovals and switched up the narrative.
For the first time in his Cup Series career, the Trackhouse Racing driver controlled his first laps-led effort on an oval during the race’s first stage after he passed Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 on lap 52. This seemed to be the theme for much of the latter half of the first stage, but he’d fall off soon after an unrelenting Ty Gibbs found an opening and claimed the lead, winning the first stage and leading for 80 laps.
Van Gisbergen didn’t fade far. The No. 97 Chevrolet stayed inside the top five for most of the night, responding well to the two‑tire call from crew chief Stephen Doran that initially moved him forward. He led four separate times for a total of 49 laps, second only to Joey Logano’s race‑best 323, and kept the car stable through the long green‑flag stretches that defined the middle portion of the event.
Logano controlled the race from the moment he reached the front, leaving with the win and Hamlin in second. Van Gisbergen held position behind them, logging his first short‑track top‑five and his first short‑track top‑10 in the Cup Series. The fifth‑place finish also capped a productive weekend at the 0.625‑mile track, backed by a third‑place run in Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race that gave him additional laps and reference points heading into Sunday.
Some of van Gisbergen’s road‑course habits carried over. He spent part of the race right‑foot braking, noting afterward that the track rewarded balance and technique more than most short ovals. The approach helped him settle into a rhythm during the longer runs and maintain grip as the track changed. The points picture shifted as well.
Van Gisbergen left North Wilkesboro 54 points above the provisional elimination line, a 23‑point improvement with five races remaining before the postseason cut. Last year’s playoff berth came through a win‑and‑in scenario. This season will require consistent oval results, and Sunday’s effort provided one of the clearest steps in that direction.
Doran said the weekend reflected both preparation and comfort. “Yesterday helped him a ton,” Doran said. “Those laps in the truck gave him a step ahead. Stage points help. All of it helps.”Even with the stakes rising, the No. 97 group kept its usual tone on the radio, mixing in light comments throughout the night, including van Gisbergen’s early‑race quip after taking the lead,” he added.
“We try to stay light,” Doran said. “That’s how we work.” North Wilkesboro didn’t produce a win, but it produced measurable progress: laps led, points gained, and a short‑track finish that reflects the direction of the program. North Wilkesboro didn’t produce a win, but it produced measurable progress: laps led, points gained, and a short‑track finish that reflects the direction of the program.
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