Van Gisbergen wins NASCAR Xfinity in Chicago

The New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen won The Loop 110 race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series on the streets of Chicago. Van Gisbergen led in the early and final stages of the race, achieving his third consecutive win on mixed circuits and his second on the urban circuit in Chicago.

The event, held on an ideal summer day, attracted a large crowd, many of whom were attending their first NASCAR event. The race was competitive and exciting, with van Gisbergen and Californian Kyle Larson competing side by side from the start. In the end, 35-year-old van Gisbergen overtook Ty Gibbs from Joe Gibbs Racing with two laps remaining, winning with a 1.287-second advantage over Gibbs and Larson.

Van Gisbergen expressed his satisfaction after the race, thanking his Kaulig Racing team and highlighting the competition with Larson. The New Zealander led 14 laps, matching the mark of Jesse Love from Richard Childress Racing, who also led 14 laps.

Kyle Larson, NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2021, and van Gisbergen, three-time Australian Supercars Series champion, exchanged positions several times during the race. Larson, who will start from pole position in the Grant Park 165 NASCAR Cup Series race, enjoyed the competition with van Gisbergen and highlighted his ability to create passing opportunities.

The race included different pit stop strategies, which altered the group's order halfway through the event. Van Gisbergen, Gibbs, and Larson made their stops during a caution period on lap 24, forcing them to regain positions in the final laps.

With six laps to go, van Gisbergen's Chevrolet was hit from behind by Sam Mayer's Chevrolet in turn 12, causing it to scrape the wall. Despite this, he managed to regain the lead and overtook Gibbs with three laps remaining.

Ty Gibbs regretted not being more aggressive in the final laps, while van Gisbergen celebrated with his usual rugby kick to the crowd, achieving his third win of the year and consolidating his position in the championship with 17 Playoff points.

Other notable drivers included Parker Kligerman, who finished fourth, and Austin Green, who achieved his third top 10 in four series appearances. Cole Custer, last year's winner, finished in 18th place due to several problems during the race.

The next NASCAR Xfinity Series race will be the following Saturday at Pocono Raceway, where Austin Hill will defend his title in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225.