Shane van Gisbergen Claims First NASCAR Cup Series Victory in Mexico City
In an exhilarating turn of events, Shane van Gisbergen celebrated his first win of the NASCAR Cup Series season at the Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez in Mexico City. The talented New Zealand driver, known for his prowess in road-course racing, finished ahead of Christopher Bell by an impressive 16.567 seconds, despite battling a troubling illness throughout the day.
Van Gisbergen shared his experience, revealing the "queasy" sensation that nearly derailed his race. "I tried to take precautions, like I do when I travel to Asia—sticking to bottled water and being careful with hygiene—but things just went downhill," he admitted. "I couldn’t keep anything in; everything just went right through me. It was a crazy weekend, but everyone on the team dug deep."
The challenges began even before the race, as van Gisbergen faced a mechanical issue with his team’s charter flight, delaying his arrival in Mexico. On race day, fatigue set in, forcing him to sleep on the floor of his hauler, leaving him uncertain about his ability to compete.
Despite these hurdles, van Gisbergen dominated the race, leading 60 out of 100 laps. The victory not only marked a significant personal achievement but also reignited his hopes for a spot in the NASCAR Playoffs. "This win means everything to us," he said. "I’m getting better and more competitive; we’re making great progress."
With the next race on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar set for Pocono, van Gisbergen enters the competition ranked 30th in the standings. However, his recent triumph in Mexico City could be a game-changer, as he aims to secure his place in the playoffs, provided that no more than 17 different drivers win races from here on out.
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Report contributed by the Associated Press. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
