Sports · Motorsport · 1 hr ago
Van Gisbergen climbs from 29th to fifth at Martinsville
Shane van Gisbergen rose from 29th to fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
The Trackhouse Racing driver made much of his progress during long stretches without caution and finished as the team’s highest-placed driver.
It was his third oval top-five finish in the Cup Series, after fifth-place results at Nashville and North Wilkesboro earlier in the year.
Van Gisbergen had missed the Chase, the series’ title-contending field, but remains the highest-ranked driver outside it.
He is 17th in the standings, 29 points ahead of teammate Ross Chastain, who finished 11th.
The result shows Van Gisbergen is making progress on oval tracks, where he has been building his results.
The series now heads to Homestead-Miami for the championship finale next weekend.
Shane van Gisbergen finished fifth at Martinsville Speedway after starting 29th.
He was the only driver who started outside the top 20 to finish in the top 10.
Van Gisbergen made much of his progress during long green-flag runs and with pit strategy.
The result was his third oval top-five finish in the Cup Series.
He remains 17th in the standings, 29 points ahead of teammate Ross Chastain.
- Who
- Shane van Gisbergen, driving for Trackhouse Racing.
- What
- He climbed from 29th on the grid to finish fifth at Martinsville.
- When
- The race took place in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, ahead of the Homestead finale.
- Where
- Martinsville Speedway.
- Why
- He advanced through the field during long green-flag runs and with pit strategy.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Van Gisbergen qualified 29th, behind Trackhouse teammates Ross Chastain and Connor Zilisch.
He finished the stage 20th.
He finished the stage 14th.
Van Gisbergen finished fifth at Martinsville, his third oval top five in the Cup Series.
He remained 17th, 29 points ahead of Chastain, entering the Homestead finale.
- Starting position
- 29th
- Finishing position
- Fifth
- Trackhouse result
- Van Gisbergen was the team’s highest finisher
- Cup Series oval top fives
- Three
- Standings position
- 17th, 29 points ahead of Ross Chastain
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What people are saying
Just an awesome day.
We just methodically worked forward.
I definitely feel like I’m getting there, thanks to having a great team around me