Shane van Gisbergen knew precisely what stored him from the win after shedding the lead on the final lap in Sunday’s Go Bowling on the Glen.
“Driver error,” he stated.
The three-time Supercars champion did effectively to place himself for a second NASCAR Cup Sequence victory. On a weekend when most eyes have been on the playoff area, the Kiwi certified third and ran effectively sufficient to seek out himself second to chief Chris Buescher with the laps winding down.
A trio of late cautions shook up the operating order and introduced the sector collectively. Van Gisbergen elected to start out on the within of the second row every time. For the primary two makes an attempt, the choice didn’t yield fruit, however on a remaining time beyond regulation restart, van Gisbergen was capable of give Buescher a small nudge into Flip 1 and make a three-wide transfer on the underside.
He cleared Buescher heading into the Esses and emerged with a slim benefit within the Bus Cease, however van Gisbergen additionally knew he might be due for contact in return from Buescher if the Texan was capable of chase him down.
For the subsequent full lap, van Gisbergen was flawless. He made a uncommon mistake within the remaining journey by the Bus Cease, although, clipping the within wall and pushing him off-line. Buescher took benefit, jumped to van Gisbergen’s inside and muscled his means by for the lead.
“I knew Chris was actually going to ship it and push me if he may get there,” van Gisbergen stated. “As I turned in, I received slightly bit free and clipped the within wall.”
Van Gisbergen tried to chase Buescher again down however received free on the exit of Flip 6 and needed to chase his tail heading into the ultimate nook. That left him too uncontrolled to present Buescher a remaining nudge within the final nook, permitting the RFK Racing veteran to journey off to his first street course win.
“I received in there deeper than I had been and I believe [van Gisbergen] was nonetheless going, so I had a very good feeling that it was in all probability going to backside out,” Buescher stated of van Gisbergen’s mistake. [The re-profiled chicane is] smoother, not easy. It was a giant second, huge alternative for us and I used to be capable of roll on by.”
The second-place run was van Gisbergen’s finest since he shocked the sector to win on debut within the 2023 Chicago Avenue Race. He’d completed no higher than tenth within the ensuing eight begins, although six of them have come on ovals the place he has a lot much less expertise.
It’s a very good signal heading into his first full-time Cup season in 2025, nevertheless it was little comfort to the 35-year-old after he gave away a possible win.
“I’m gutted,” van Gisbergen stated. “The WeatherTech Camaro was actually good. The race was superior with Ross (Chastain), Chris and the others on the finish. I’m gutted that we couldn’t get it. I had lots of enjoyable, however I’m fairly indignant with myself.”
