A heart-stopping NASCAR pileup brings an end to Shane van Gisbergen's promising oval run. With a unique New Zealand-themed car, van Gisbergen was on track for a career-best finish. But here's where it gets controversial: a risky strategy call and a multi-car accident dashed his hopes.
After an impressive showing at New Hampshire and Kansas, van Gisbergen was looking strong at the Charlotte Roval, securing his fifth win of the season. But when NASCAR headed back to the ovals for Las Vegas, his luck took a turn.
Starting 13th, van Gisbergen qualified ahead of both his Trackhouse Racing teammates. He maintained a solid position throughout the race, finishing 12th in Stage 1 and 11th in Stage 3. It seemed like a top-15 finish was within reach.
And this is the part most people miss: with just over 30 laps to go, a violent wreck involving William Byron changed the game. Crew chief Stephen Doran rolled the dice, taking just two fresh tires on the right side. This move vaulted van Gisbergen into sixth for the restart.
The field spread out, and then it happened. Ty Gibbs went up the middle, following Alex Bowman, just as Christopher Bell was moving to the inside of van Gisbergen. Bell's move squeezed Gibbs and van Gisbergen together, triggering a massive crash. Van Gisbergen spun, hit by both Austin Dillon and his teammate, Ross Chastain. With nowhere to go, SVG's car ricocheted, collecting Carson Hocevar as well.
The race was over for van Gisbergen, ending on Lap 245. He was credited with a disappointing 33rd-place finish. "Frustrating end to the day," he said. "My 88 Jockey Chevy was incredible at the start, and we were still in contention for a good finish. Proud of my team, but our result doesn't reflect the race we had."
NASCAR confirmed that eleven drivers were involved in the crash, making it one of the biggest Cup wrecks in Las Vegas history. The drivers included van Gisbergen, Gibbs, Chastain, A. Dillon, Hocevar, Ware, Bell, Chase Elliott, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith, and A.J. Allmendinger.
So, what do you think? Was it a bold strategy call or a risky move that backfired? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
