Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen turned into the primary driver in the greater part 100 years to come out on top in a Cup race in their initial beginning, taking the checkered banner in the debut Chicago Road Race on Sunday.
“This was so cool,” van Gisbergen told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider. ” You long for this. Ideally I can come and accomplish more.”
Van Gisbergen, a New Zealander who is 34 years old and hails from Auckland, becomes the first driver since Johnny Rutherford to win in his first Cup race. Rutherford won a Daytona qualifying race in 1963. In NASCAR’s 75-year history, Van Gisbergen is the seventh driver to win in their first race.
“He was in a league of his own,” Pursue Elliott said of van Gisbergen. ” In my opinion, he put on a really big-time clinic. I don’t want to speak for everybody else, but he made me look bad. I kind of think the rest of us, too.”
Kyle Busch noticed that van Gisbergen has driven vehicles comparable for Cup vehicles for quite a long time.
“He’s probably four, five, eight years ahead of us in this sort of car,” Busch said.
Van Gisbergen gave Trackhouse Dashing its second win in succession. He drove for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 team, and a week after Ross Chastain won at Nashville, he won there as well.
He came out on top in a race abbreviated by haziness in the wake of being deferred by downpour. The race was supposed to last 100 laps, but it was only 75 laps long and overtime added four laps.
Justin Haley completed second and was trailed by Elliott, Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, who defeated an early accident into the Turn 6 tire hindrance to score a main five.
6th through tenth was Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs and Chris Buescher.
After rain for most of the day, the race started on a wet course, which caused the start to be 90 minutes later. After 20 laps, the racing line began to dry, and teams began replacing wet weather tires with slick ones.
Just used to be the track obstructed in the occasion — something that many dreaded could happen on various occasions in the race. The track was impeded thusly 11 on Lap 50. Kevin Harvick hit a wall, crossed the track, and blocked half of it after William Byron missed the corner. Corey LaJoie and Harvick then made contact. Different vehicles ran into one another and within path additionally was hindered.
Christopher Ringer won the two phases however saw his opportunities to rapidly win end. At the point when NASCAR declared on Lap 46 that the race would be abbreviated to 75 laps, he was driving, however a few vehicles had previously hollowed and were ready to come as far as possible. When Bell went to the pits, he started the race 12th, behind drivers who were trying to finish the race.
Bell was one of the cars involved in the collision in Turn 11 that obstructed the track on Lap 50. He spun in Turn 1 five laps later, losing additional positions. He completed eighteenth.
When Tyler Reddick was running fourth, he hit the Turn 6 tire barrier, ending his chances of finishing in the top five. He came in 28th.
Van Gisbergen was ultimately elusive.
“The fans in Australia and New Zealand, the response this week and the coverage has been — I can’t explain it,” he said. “Like the response and the support I’ve got from everyone and even over here how welcoming everyone is, I can’t believe it. Dream come true.”
STAGE 1 WINNER: Christopher Bell
STAGE 2 WINNER: Christopher Bell
WHO HAD A GOOD RACE: His best road course finish is runner-up for Justin Haley… It was Chris Buescher’s eighth top-10 finish on a road course in a row.
WHO HAD A BAD RACE: Alex Bowman entered the race two brings up of the last season finisher move spot. A collision resulted in a last-place finish, putting the team further behind the goal with eight regular-season races remaining.
NOTABLE: The past six drivers who came out on top in a Cup race in their most memorable series start were Jim Roper (Charlotte, 1949), Jack White (Hamburg, 1949), Harold Kite (Daytona Ocean side, 1950), Leon Deals (North Wilkesboro, 1950), Marvin Burke (Oakland, 1951) and Johnny Rutherford (Daytona, 1963)
NEXT: On July 9, the series will compete in Atlanta (7 p.m. ET on USA).