van Gisbergen wins a road course again
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WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Shane van Gisbergen's latest victory in NASCAR's premier series was as historical as it was emotional.
With his father, Robert, on hand for the first time this year, the Auckland, New Zealand, native set a Cup Series rookie record with his fourth victory, blowing out the competition again at Watkins Glen International.
"It's just amazing to have him here," said van Gisbergen, who last saw his father while visiting home over the Christmas break. "It's been a very tough, tough year for dad, and he hasn't been able to travel, so to have him here for the next three weeks and share this with him, it's amazing."
As amazing as van Gisbergen's rookie season in the Cup series.
The Trackhouse Racing driver joined 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive Cup races on road or street courses.
Unlike his prior wins at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma, van Gisbergen was unable to start from the pole position after being edged by Ryan Blaney. After qualifying second, van Gisbergen bided his time and took his first lead on the 25th of the 90-lap race. He then settled into a typically flawless and smooth rhythm on the 2.45-mile road course.
"I'm just a very lucky guy to get to drive for an amazing bunch of people and just execute," van Gisbergen said. "The day went flawlessly."
The 36-year-old rookie made his final pit stop with 27 laps remaining and cycled into first place on Lap 74 of a clean race with only three yellow flags. Cruising to a big lead while leading the final 17 laps, van Gisbergen beat Christopher Bell by 11.116 seconds.
"I'm thrilled because we've been struggling a little bit," Bell said. "Just trying to execute the races has been tough for us, so really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by (van Gisbergen). He's doing such a really good job."
With five victories in only 38 career starts in NASCAR's premier series, van Gisbergen trails only Elliott (seven wins) and Kyle Larson (six) among active drivers on street or road courses. He also is the fastest to five wins in Cup since the legendary Dan Gurney, who won his fifth race in his 13th start in January 1968.
The win validated the decision by Trackhouse to sign van Gisbergen to a multiyear contract extension last week. Tied with Denny Hamlin for the series lead in victories, van Gisbergen holds the No. 2 seed in the playoffs with two races remaining in the regular season.
The first round will be held at three oval tracks, where the inexperienced van Gisbergen, who raced exclusively on road and street courses while winning three championships in the Australia-based Supercars, has an average finish of 26.9 this year.
"It ain't going to be easy, that's for sure," van Gisbergen said of his playoff outlook. "The first round, it's some very difficult left-handed tracks for me, but I'm getting better at it, and I'm enjoying myself, and it's a challenge. That's why we're here, and we'll have a proper crack at it."
Third-place finisher Chris Buescher improved to 34 points ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing teammate Ryan Preece in the battle for the final playoff spot.
Zilisch returns
Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Connor Zilisch was back Sunday at Watkins Glen International and recounting his scary fall in victory lane.
After winning Saturday's Xfinity race at the road course, Zilisch took a nasty tumble while attempting a celebratory perch on his No. 88 Chevrolet in celebration. Zilisch, 19, was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Trackhouse Racing withdrew the No. 87 Chevy that he was scheduled to drive in the Cup race Sunday at Watkins Glen.
"First of all, I'm doing OK," Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the Cup race. "Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn't walk away, but I'm very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right. Thank you to all the medics who took care of me, and everybody who reached out and wished me well. I do appreciate it a lot."
Palou wins crown again
Alex Palou wrapped up his fourth IndyCar championship in the last five seasons on Sunday at Portland International Raceway when title contender Pato O'Ward lost power early in the race.
O'Ward started from the pole and was the only driver mathematically eligible to beat Palou for the championship. Palou went into Sunday with a cozy 121-point lead over O'Ward in the standings and so long as he left Portland up by 108 points, he'd clinch the championship in the first race of a three consecutive weekends to close the season.
Will Power became the first Penske driver to win an IndyCar race in this comically un-Penske like season with a commanding victory.