![\"Chastain](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HJIVpdkW4AAh4sx-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n
The driver of the #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro led 11 laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway and was a consistent top 10 runner in the rain-shortened 373-lap race.<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen started third after qualifying was rained out, which meant the starting order was set based on the qualifying metric after Watkins Glen.<\/p>\n
He made the most of his opportunity to start at the pointy end of the field, bagging stage points in the first three legs of the race en route to 11th.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not surprised,\u201d said Chastain, who was an early DNF.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all trying to figure out what our Trackhouse cars want and need for us to drive them.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople can downplay his oval, banking racing. It\u2019s not true. He can drive a car. He can find the limit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI keep saying, when the car is right he\u2019ll be able to put it there. It definitely is not surprising to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen had very few complaints about his car during the race. It built tight at times, then loosened up as the sun set and the track cooled.<\/p>\n
His lap times were among some of the quickest all day long.<\/p>\n
When the car was at its best and van Gisbergen made headway toward the top five, he opened the radio to let out a cheer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I took the lead from the #54 (Ty Gibbs) I might have cheered a little bit, so you\u2019ll probably hear that on the in-car camera. It was awesome,\u201d said van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt worked out different. It\u2019s just been good progression and I\u2019ve got such a good group of people, not only at Trackhouse but on the #97 car.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust every week it\u2019s so fun going to the race track. I feel like we\u2019re building and building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen admitted he wasn\u2019t happy with the end result.<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s decision to gamble and stay out under one of the caution periods lofted him to second, though he slipped back on slightly older tyres.<\/p>\n
It was a similarly spirited call by Spire Motorsports that elevated Daniel Suarez to first during the final round of pit stops before going on to win the rain-shortened race.<\/p>\n
\u201cBit pissed with the 11th but it was an awesome day,\u201d said van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey did a good job getting the car better and better. All the guys from SuperFile were here, so it was really cool to have them.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce I started up the front it was cool to stay there and learn. Just felt confident all day.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally fun to run up front and my car seemed to like being up by the wall. It was pretty awesome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of lightbulb moments still, but I think I\u2019m quite a conservative person or driver still and I really benefit from the longer practice as well. I think that really helps.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple sets of tyres and more time on track. You get to experiment with things and I think that really helps me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just taking time. It\u2019s so different this kind of racing and I still learn something every week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen continues his season at Nashville Superspeedway on June 1 (AEST).<\/p>\n
SVG delivers stunning drive in rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600<\/a><\/p>\n For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US<\/a><\/p>\n