![\"\u2018Shane\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/779b6938-39d5-4bda-b16d-7a1e30d6e2e0EHS_26NWB_20260719_E2962-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen on track during the NASCAR Cup Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Image: Ethan Smith\/NASCAR <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen on track during the NASCAR Cup Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Image: Ethan Smith\/NASCAR <\/p>\n
The Trackhouse Racing driver scored the third-most points of any driver at the short oval, finishing second in Stage 1, fifth in Stage 2 and fifth again in Stage 3.<\/a><\/p>\n The result moved van Gisbergen from 15th to 14th in the standings, extending his gap over the 16th place cut-line from 31 to 54 points.<\/p>\n Van Gisbergen and Joey Logano leapfrogged Austin Cindric, who dropped two places to 16th.<\/p>\n The highlight of the race was van Gisbergen leading during Stage 1<\/a> when a spirited call to take two tyres as opposed to four during the first caution vaulted him from ninth to fourth.<\/p>\n A good restart got him up to second and challenging Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin for the lead.<\/p>\n After getting by Hamlin, van Gisbergen settled into the lead but was beaten to the green-chequered flag on the final lap by Hamlin\u2019s stablemate Ty Gibbs.<\/p>\n Complete our motor oil survey for your chance to win 1 of 5 Supercheap Auto $100 gift cards. \u201cIt\u2019s good to be up there to genuinely lead,\u201d said van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I took the lead, I got pretty excited.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you to Wendys, Trackhouse, Chevy \u2013 awesome day. Just amazing to get stage point both stages.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a bit pissed I threw it away at the last corner on that first stage. It was awesome racing up front all night.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m leading, what the f*** do I do now?!?\u201d \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n SVG after realizing he took the lead at @NWBSpeedway<\/a> \ud83d\ude05 pic.twitter.com\/dCx2uetho8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) July 20, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Van Gisbergen asked for water and electrolytes mid-race, complaining about cramp in his leg.<\/p>\n He swapped from left-foot braking to right-foot braking during Stage 3 to combat the problem, holding on to a top five finish.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just hot man,\u201d van Gisbergen explained.<\/p>\n \u201cJust soaked the whole time. When you\u2019re behind people you just start cooking as well, you feel the brakes, tyres, everything just gets hot. I was struggling.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt fine but when I stopped I was like \u2018oh shit, I\u2019m pretty cooked\u2019. It was fun. I swapped, I right-foot braked for half the race because my left leg was sore.\u201d<\/p>\n NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson hailed van Gisbergen\u2019s progress, noting the benefits of additional track time in the preceding day\u2019s Craftsman Truck Series race in which he was third.<\/p>\n \u201cShane\u2019s trouble for the rest of this field, man,\u201d said the seven-time Cup Series champion.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s reps. Him running the Truck race and getting all this seat time, the guy has got it. He\u2019s coming along.\u201d<\/p>\n Bet you didn\u2019t expect @shanevg97<\/a> to gain a spot in the standings at North Wilkesboro.<\/p>\n SVG now has more top five\u2019s on a oval (2) in 2026 than he had top 10\u2019s on a oval (1) coming into this season. pic.twitter.com\/UMe8ZKR7FA<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/287093.gif\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTake the short survey.<\/a><\/p>\n