Shane van Gisbergen Dominates the Grant Park 165 in Chicago

Shane van Gisbergen showcased his exceptional driving skills once again during the Grant Park 165 race held on the Chicago Street Course, solidifying his status in NASCAR history. With this victory, the New Zealand driver not only celebrated a weekend of triumph but also matched a significant milestone previously set by NASCAR legend Kyle Busch. Van Gisbergen’s impressive performance included sweeping both the NASCAR Xfinity and NASCAR Cup races, both starting from pole position.

As the race came to a close, van Gisbergen took the checkered flag while navigating a caution period triggered by Cody Ware’s unfortunate collision with a tire barrier at Turn 6. This moment occurred just as van Gisbergen was making his way through Turn 12 on what would be the penultimate lap. By achieving this feat, he joined the ranks of Busch, who had also swept both races from pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway back in July 2016. To date, no other driver has accomplished the rare feat of winning in both of NASCAR’s top divisions during the same weekend while starting from the front.

A Nervous Finish

In reflecting on the race, the three-time Australian Supercars champion admitted to feeling a sense of panic at the thought of a caution and the possibility of overtime following Ware’s incident. However, van Gisbergen managed to reach the start/finish line just before NASCAR officially called the caution. “What an amazing weekend for me,” he stated, expressing gratitude to the team and sponsors who supported him throughout the event. Driving the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, this victory marked his second Cup win of the season, adding to his growing list of accomplishments.

Ty Gibbs finished in second place, matching his career-best result, which he had previously achieved at Darlington last year. Tyler Reddick, who restarted in 15th place on fresh tires with just nine laps remaining, managed to climb up to third but ultimately ran out of time to challenge for a higher position.

Taking the Lead

Van Gisbergen seized the lead for the final time on lap 60, overtaking Chase Briscoe, who had been leading the race. The two drivers raced side-by-side through Turns 2 and 3, with van Gisbergen executing a perfectly timed out-braking maneuver into Turn 4 to secure the top position. From that point forward, he faced the challenge of navigating through two additional cautions and restarts—one for a medical emergency involving a spectator and another due to Austin Cindric’s stalled car.

During the final restart, Gibbs, who was positioned in second, struggled to maintain momentum and fell back a car-length before reaching Turn 1. Van Gisbergen capitalized on this opportunity and pulled away from Gibbs, ensuring his lead. Gibbs later expressed frustration regarding the restart zone, noting that the driver on the inside typically has a significant advantage.

Deja Vu for Tyler Reddick

For Tyler Reddick, the race felt like a repeat of last year’s events, where he found himself chasing the eventual winner, Alex Bowman, in the closing laps. Reddick acknowledged that he faced challenges during the penultimate restart, which hindered his ability to gain more positions. “We kind of ended up in a tough spot there on the penultimate restart,” Reddick reflected. Despite finishing in third place, he expressed disappointment about the lost opportunity to capitalize on his car’s performance.

Weather Conditions

Interestingly, this year marked the first time in three years that weather did not play a significant role in the Chicago street race; however, there were concerns about potential thunderstorms as the race progressed. Toward the end of the event, fog and storm clouds began to gather, but rain held off until after the race concluded.

Van Gisbergen commented on the varying strategies employed throughout the race, acknowledging the unpredictability of both the weather and the competition. His crew chief, Stephen Doran, played a pivotal role in guiding him through the race, ensuring he stayed informed about his competitors and the race dynamics. “We had two great pit stops,” van Gisbergen noted, expressing his excitement about securing victory for WeatherTech, a sponsor closely tied to the local area.

Early Race Challenges

The race started with Michael McDowell taking the lead and leading the first 31 laps before he encountered issues with a stuck throttle that forced him to the damaged vehicle policy (DVP) area, resulting in a 22-lap deficit. The initial laps were marred by a massive eight-car crash that occurred on lap three, blocking the track between Turns 10 and 11. This incident, triggered by Carson Hocevar’s mishap with the inside wall, led to a halt in the race for approximately 14 minutes and 42 seconds.

Hocevar’s crash set off a chain reaction, with multiple cars including those of Brad Keselowski, Daniel Suarez, Todd Gilliland, Will Brown, and Riley Herbst becoming involved in the incident. Fortunately, Herbst and Suarez managed to continue racing after the wreck.

Keselowski, who was a victim of the crash, shared his perspective on the narrow street course, highlighting the difficulty drivers face when navigating such tight spaces. “I didn’t see it until the last second,” he commented, describing how other drivers were unable to avoid the pile-up.

In-Season Challenge Updates

In other developments during the race, Ty Dillon, starting from the 32nd position, emerged as a winner in the In-Season Challenge following Keselowski’s early exit. Dillon is set to compete against Bowman in the upcoming third-round event at Sonoma Raceway.

John Hunter Nemechek finished 15th, just ahead of Chase Elliott, which effectively eliminated Elliott from the In-Season Challenge. Nemechek will face Erik Jones, who advanced after Ricky Stenhouse Jr. retired due to a collision with a tire barrier. Ryan Preece finished seventh, eliminating 30th-place finisher Noah Gragson, while Gibbs will race against Zane Smith at Sonoma after defeating AJ Allmendinger.

Standings and Final Thoughts

Series leader William Byron encountered a setback when he was forced out of the race due to a broken clutch after just one lap, resulting in a 40th-place finish. This incident allowed his lead in the standings to shrink to just 13 points over second-place Elliott.

The Grant Park 165 proved to be an unforgettable race, filled with thrilling moments, strategic maneuvers, and unexpected developments. Van Gisbergen’s remarkable performance not only highlighted his driving prowess but also underscored the competitive nature of NASCAR, as drivers faced various challenges on the unique Chicago street circuit.