If you have followed the current season, then you know the menace Shane van Gisbergen has been on road courses, all while being a Cup Series rookie. His wins at the inaugural Mexico City, Watkins Glen, and Sonoma, just to name a few, have been impressive to say the least, but as the three-time Supercars champion dominates Sunday afternoon’s Charlotte ROVAL race, he is closer to hitting Jeff Gordon’s record.

The 54-year-old’s six straight road course wins between 1997 and 2000 remain one of NASCAR’s most unbreakable records, with his nine total victories on such tracks still unmatched. Yet, SVG is fast approaching that legacy, with five wins in 11 starts and an average road course finish of 2.0. The Kiwi’s dominance has redefined what consistency looks like in the Next Gen era. And thanks to his Charlotte win, the milestone is closer than before.

The race had a chaotic start, with minor contact between SVG and polesitter Tyler Reddick in the opening corners and a separate incident involving Kyle Busch and Carson Hocevar bringing early tension. But once the field settled, SVG’s pace was unstoppable. He grabbed the lead early. Even when pit stops came calling, SVG stayed cool and calculated, never falling far from the front. And by lap 21, he was back in the lead, like a boomerang with horsepower.

Speaking post-race, a very happy SVG said, “It just started getting hot and sliding around. What an awesome race. Kyle and Christopher were driving really good. It got a little rough, but man, the battle was awesome. Unbelievable. I really enjoyed that. It was a long time waiting, hoping that the yellow wasn’t going to come out.”

As the first stage wound down, SVG looked formidable. He had a six-second lead, and he made it official by winning stage one like it was child’s play. However, stage two threw some chaos into the mix, with pit strategies flying everywhere, but the Kiwi kept slicing through traffic.

However, through the middle stages, the 36-year-old briefly lost track position amid pit cycles and handling complaints, even radioing frustration about tire pressures. He said, “I just don’t have the grip early on. I’ve got no grip, man. No grip. My rears are already done.”

Still, his consistency shone through as he regained the top spot after a fierce exchange with Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell in the final laps. Despite Larson’s aggressive challenge, the two even traded bumps at the chicane.

Even the pit strategy couldn’t hold him back for long. A late-stage two pit stop dropped him briefly, but the No. 88 Chevy driver still finished fifth in the stage and came storming back to the front by lap 54. He nailed every restart, every braking zone, and probably every gearshift, retaking the lead seven laps later.

The final stretch was pure Shane van Gisbergen showtime. While he made his way to the pit road from the late position, he muscled past Kyle Larson to retake control by lap 96. From there, he just pulled away, up to 18 seconds with five laps to go, and didn’t look back.

When the checkered flag dropped, SVG didn’t just win; he conquered. It was equal parts precision, pace, and sheer Kiwi brilliance. And now SVG can tie Jeff Gordon’s record at Circuit of The Americas next March with his Trackhouse Racing team.

And as SVG has found great growth on Ovals, according to Denny Hamlin, this year will be a warm-up for the Kiwi, who will look to extend his time in the playoffs next time around. But as one Trackhouse Racing driver triumphs, another sees his exit…

Ross Chastain misses a spot in the Round of 8 amid SVG brilliance

Ross Chastain ran out of luck and playoff points, making a desperate move at the end that cost him dearly. The Florida native entered the Bank of America Roval 400 with a 13-point deficit to Joey Logano in the playoff standings.

To secure a spot in the Round of 8, Chastain needed to outscore Joey Logano by at least 14 points. He gained ground early by finishing fifth in stage one, earning six stage points while Logano scored none, narrowing the gap to 7 points.

However, Ross Chastain’s race took a turn for the worse due to two pit road errors: overshooting his pit stall after stage one and speeding during a pit stop on lap 87. These mistakes cost him valuable track position and points.

In the final laps, the No. 1 Chevrolet driver made contact with Denny Hamlin and spun, ultimately reversing across the finish line. Despite his efforts, he finished 21st, four points behind Logano, who secured the last transfer spot to the Round of 8.

Chastain’s elimination from the playoffs overshadowed his earlier, stronger performance. And the better man won at the end. Logano’s strategic pit stop with 11 laps left allowed him to advance. But with no added pressure, Ross Chastain can rest easy while still wanting to end the year with a bang.