Shane van Gisbergen showcased his exceptional skills as a road course racer by winning in his NASCAR debut two years ago, and now he has become a formidable contender ahead of the race at Sonoma Raceway. Starting from the pole for the second week in a row—his third pole position in five races—van Gisbergen is seen by many as the favorite to dominate once again.
His recent performances have been remarkable, including victories at the road course in Mexico City and on the streets of Chicago, both from the pole position. With five consecutive finishes of seventh place or higher, van Gisbergen’s consistency is impressive. Kyle Larson, last year’s winner at Sonoma, acknowledged van Gisbergen’s superiority, stating, “He’s way, way, way better than us at the road course stuff.”
The key to van Gisbergen’s success lies in his unique toe-heel braking technique, which his rivals, including Kyle Busch, find difficult to emulate. Busch noted that mastering this technique would take far too long for him, while Larson humorously remarked on the challenges of adapting to new driving methods at this stage in his career.
While Denny Hamlin believes van Gisbergen is beatable, he emphasized that it would require unfortunate circumstances, such as cautions, to shift the race dynamics. He admired van Gisbergen’s proactive approach to cornering, allowing him to maintain a pace that others struggle to match.
In other racing news, tensions remain high between Joey Logano and Ross Chastain after a controversial incident at Chicago, where Chastain’s actions led Logano to seek NASCAR intervention, which was ultimately denied. Logano confirmed that there has been no communication since the altercation, expressing his focus on racing rather than the ongoing feud.
Furthermore, Bubba Wallace took steps to mend his relationship with Alex Bowman, following another run-in during the Chicago race. In a gesture of goodwill, Wallace approached Bowman in a California restaurant, hugged him, and paid for his meal, demonstrating a desire to move past their disagreements.
This weekend at Sonoma, with heightened rivalries and the potential for van Gisbergen’s continued success, fans can expect an exciting race filled with compelling storylines.