VAN GISBERGEN SURVIVES DESERT CHAOS TO CLAIM HARD-FOUGHT 11TH AT PHOENIX

Starting 18th in the Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway, Shane van Gisbergen put on a resilient display of car control and pit strategy to secure an 11th-place finish. In a race dominated by tyre failures and late-stage attrition—which ultimately saw Ryan Blaney take the checkered flag—SVG’s ability to rebound from multiple incidents defined his afternoon in the desert.

Van Gisbergen opened the race methodically, climbing to 14th by the end of Stage 1, perfectly tracking toward the broadcast’s stated top-15 goal for the #97 team. He continued his charge early in Stage 2, quickly dispatching cars on the restart to move into 12th.

However, disaster struck on Lap 94. A sudden right-side tyre failure sent SVG spinning off Turn 4. The ensuing struggle to get the car re-fired dropped him a full lap down to the field, seemingly derailing his momentum.

A chaotic caution on Lap 158 for Noah Gragson’s blown tyre, which also saw William Byron and Connor Zilisch suffer flat tyres under yellow—provided the exact break SVG needed. As the first car a lap down, he earned the “Lucky Dog,” returning to the lead lap in 33rd.

Back on equal footing, Van Gisbergen mounted a clinical recovery drive. By Lap 175, he had sliced his way back to 19th. The closing laps of Stage 2 saw the intensity peak as he survived a daring four wide scramble, eventually going door-to-door with William Byron to claim 20th position. He continued to stay out of the mid-race drama, moving up to 18th by Lap 233.

But Phoenix wasn’t done throwing curveballs. On Lap 246, while running 17th, SVG got loose and was subsequently tagged from behind by Austin Dillon. Despite spinning for a second time, he displayed remarkable car control to keep the engine firing and crucially remained on the lead lap. Just laps later, a massive multi-car pileup claimed Joey Logano. SVG narrowly avoided the wreckage, heavily locking up and flat-spotting his tyres to weave through the debris.

The defining strategic call of the race came under a Lap 287 caution. SVG’s crew gambled on a two-tyre pit stop, a bold move that vaulted him 11 positions up the leaderboard. He restarted in 9th place on Lap 294, firmly planted in the top 10 for the final sprint.

Van Gisbergen spent the closing laps fiercely defending his track position. With just two laps remaining, Erik Jones managed to slip past, relegating SVG to 11th as Blaney secured the race victory.

SBG also had to battle having little to no brakes by the race end.

Despite the pair of spins, a lap deficit, and heavily worn tyres, the Kiwi’s recovery drive stands as a major testament to his rapidly developing oval race craft.

Van Gisbergen still sits 5th in the championship points -109 behind leader Tyler Reddick.

Race Timeline: Shane van Gisbergen

| Race Segment | Event | Impact |

| Stage 1 | Methodical opening stint | Climbed from 18th to 14th |

| Lap 94 | Tyre failure & Spin (Turn 4) | Dropped 1 lap down |

| Lap 158 | Receives “Lucky Dog” | Returned to lead lap |

| Lap 246 | Tagged by Austin Dillon & Spins | Recovered, stayed on lead lap |

| Lap 254 | Dodges massive Logano wreck | Flat-spotted tyres avoiding debris |

| Lap 287 | Pits for two tyres under caution | Jumped 11 spots to 9th |

| Checkered | Passed by Erik Jones late | Finished 11th overall |

By Matthew Paul – Velocity Magazine NASCAR reporter

Photos: Trackhouse Racing, Fox Sports & SVG FB

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