THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

NASCAR Sonoma takeaways: Shane van Gisbergen rules a road course once ... Van Gisbergen won for the eighth time in 16 career Cup Series starts on road courses, putting himself above the playoff cutline for now.James Gilbert / Getty Images SONOMA, Calif. — At NASCAR road courses, when nothing fluky happens, Shane van Gisbergen feels inevitable. That feeling was proven correct yet again on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, as the New Zealand driver known as “SVG” won his eighth career Cup Series road course race to move within one victory of Jeff Gordon for the all-time lead on the twisty tracks. Advertisement Though van Gisbergen did not win the pole position at Sonoma, briefly raising questions as to whether he was vulnerable this time, he ended up as the dominant driver yet again. SVG swept the weekend (also destroying the field in Saturday’s O’Reilly Series race) and moved back into a provisional spot for NASCAR’s “Chase” playoffs this fall with eight races remaining before the 16-driver field is set. It will be a tremendous challenge for van Gisbergen to hang onto that position for the next two months, as oval tracks — which make up the rest of the regular season — are not his ba…

Shane van Gisbergen is NASCAR’s leading active winner on road and street courses with Sonoma victory <p>SONOMA, Calif. &#8212; Shane van Gisbergen continued his remarkable run on the twistiest tracks in NASCAR, but this was no easy Sunday drive.</p>

Shane van Gisbergen is NASCAR's leading active winner on road and ... Shane van Gisbergen celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Shane van Gisbergen celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Shane van Gisbergen celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Shane van Gisbergen (97) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Show Caption 1 of 4 Shane van Gisbergen celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Expand By Associated Press PUBLISHED: June 28, 2026 at 6:47 PM EDT | UPDATED: June 28, 2026 at 9:02 PM EDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... SONOMA, Calif. (AP) — Shane van Gisbergen became the winningest active NASCAR Cup Series driver on road and street courses, dominating at Sonoma Raceway for the second consecutive year.…

As Jeff Gordon's Legacy Gets Challenged by Shane Van Gisbergen, Fans ... Jeff Gordon ruled NASCAR’s road courses like few others, racking up nine Cup Series wins on those twisting tracks, five at Sonoma Raceway and four at Watkins Glen International. His dominance peaked in the late 1990s, with a streak of six straight road course victories from 1997 to 2000, including a memorable 1997 Watkins Glen battle where he outdueled Rusty Wallace in a weather-challenged thriller that showcased his precision under pressure. Watch What’s Trending Now! Back then, road courses were a rare test, limited to just two per season, forcing drivers like Gordon to maximize every opportunity in an era when ovals dominated the schedule. His stats speak volumes: a career average finish of ~13 on road courses, blending aggressive passing with calculated strategy that made him the benchmark for generations. Enter Shane van Gisbergen , the Kiwi sensation whose Supercars background, honed on tight street circuits with concrete walls and zero margin for error, has translated seamlessly to NASCAR’s road layouts. Ryan Blaney nailed it on the Door Bumper Clear podcast , saying, “A lot of areas have trouble, and …

Shane van Gisbergen's road course dominance stuns NASCAR, nears all ... Shane van Gisbergen’s road course dominance stuns NASCAR, nears all-time record after Watkins Glen masterclass NASCAR Drivers News By Khushal Bhatia August 10, 2025 Shane van Gisbergen waves to fans after a stunning performance at Watkins Glen. Shane van Gisbergen road course dominance was on full display during the recent Watkins Glen race , where he pulled off a commanding victory, beating Christopher Bell by over 11 seconds and making a strong statement in the NASCAR Cup Series . Van Gisbergen ’s relentless pace and expert driving added to his growing legacy as one of the series’ premier road racers. Van Gisbergen Delivers Standout Performance at Watkins Glen At Watkins Glen , van Gisbergen ’s aggressive yet smooth driving, tactical race sense, careful tire management, and confidence during restarts showcased why he’s seen as an elite competitor in NASCAR road races . The Kiwi racer placed himself alongside NASCAR legends such as Chase Elliott , Jeff Gordon , and Dan Gurney , becoming one of only a handful to claim four consecutive Cup Series victories on street or road tracks. His mastery of racecraft, com…