SONOMA, Calif. — Shane van Gisbergen solidified his status as a road course maestro, winning the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on July 13, 2025. Leading 97 of 110 laps, he secured his third win of the 2025 season, outpacing Chase Briscoe by 1.128 seconds in a race marked by late cautions.
Road Course Mastery
Starting from pole, Shane van Gisbergen showcased his mastery of the 1.99-mile, 12-turn circuit, setting a record for the most laps led at Sonoma, surpassing Jeff Gordon’s 92-lap mark from 2004. The victory marked his third consecutive road course win, echoing Gordon’s 1998-1999 streak, and his fourth Cup Series win in 34 starts, the fastest since Parnelli Jones in 1967.
“We had an amazing car,” Shane van Gisbergen told TNT. “Chase Briscoe, what a great racer and gave me respect. Jumped the last (restart) a little bit, and it was pretty tense, but amazing. So stoked for Red Bull, Trackhouse, Chevy.”
Late-Race Challenges
The No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver navigated three late-race cautions, fending off challenges from Briscoe and Chase Elliott, who finished second and third. Elliott, on fresher tires after a Lap 97 pit stop, noted, “It was nice to be on offense and give ourselves a shot. I just couldn’t get going like we needed to”. Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five.
A NASCAR Star Rises
Shane van Gisbergen’s win, following a second-place Xfinity Series finish the previous day, underscored his road course prowess. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in NASCAR,” said the 36-year-old New Zealander, a three-time Australian Supercars champion. “I hope I’m here for a long time to come”.
In-Season Challenge Drama
The race, part of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, saw intense battles, with Ty Dillon advancing to the semifinals by edging out Alex Bowman on the final lap. Shane van Gisbergen’s Stage 2 win earned him 17 playoff points, placing him third in the Cup Series Playoff grid with six regular-season races left.
Sonoma’s Thrilling Finish
Sonoma’s 218.9-mile race, with six cautions for 17 laps, highlighted the track’s challenging layout. Shane van Gisbergen’s dominance, leading 97 laps, was unmatched, though Briscoe noted, “I never played basketball against Michael Jordan in his prime, but I feel like that’s probably what it was like”.
The former Supercars star’s transition to NASCAR has been remarkable, with his Sonoma triumph building on wins in Mexico City and Chicago. As the Cup Series heads to Dover Motor Speedway on July 20, Shane van Gisbergen aims to prove his versatility beyond road courses.
For more details on the Toyota/Save Mart 350, visit. Shane van Gisbergen’s historic performance cements his reputation as a road course legend, thrilling fans in wine country and beyond.
