Van Gisbergen's emotional win in
Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs
[June 16, 2025]
By JENNA FRYER
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Very little went right for Shane Van Gisbergen in
the buildup to NASCAR's first international Cup Series points-paying
race of the modern era.
A mechanical issue on takeoff forced his team charter to abort the
initial journey to Mexico City. He arrived at the venue Friday, a
day late, and after winning the pole Saturday, the New Zealander
fell seriously ill.
He was sleeping on the floor of his hauler before Sunday's race,
unsure he'd be able to physically complete the 100-lap event at
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
But there's something special about the Kiwi and new venues,
especially in the rain, and he salvaged the weekend by winning on
the road course to earn an automatic berth into NASCAR's playoffs.
Van Gisbergen led 60 of 100 laps and beat Christopher Bell by 16.567
seconds.
“I tried to treat it like when I go to Asia, just drink bottled
water and be careful in the shower and brush your teeth with bottled
water, but I just went downhill,” Van Gisbergen said. “Couldn't keep
anything in. Everything just went straight through me. I felt really
queasy and my mind was there, but my body just had so much pressure
in my stomach. Crazy weekend and everyone dug deep.”
It was the second Cup Series victory of his career. He won in his
NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago — a
victory that changed his career trajectory. Van Gisbergen left
Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a
full-time move to NASCAR.
Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races
last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride —
Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR's top level.
He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one
top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his
victory in Mexico City revived his season and gives him a shot to
race for the Cup Series championship.
“It means everything to us, this is why I'm here,” Van Gisbergen
said. “I am getting better and more competitive. We're really making
a lot of progress.”
Van Gisbergen celebrated in his traditional rugby-style way — he
drop-kicked a signed football into the grandstands and then said he
had recovered enough to enjoy “some Red Bulls mixed with adult
beverages” later Sunday.
Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the
first lap of the race because he's an exceptionally skilled driver
on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions.
Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van
Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a
disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled
the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on
Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and
finished 19th.
“I wish I was in the mix fighting for it a little more, but it just
wasn't in the cards,” Suarez said. "Every single thing about this
weekend exceeded my expectations, the people, the fans, the
sponsors, the excitement, the energy.
“I had expectations for this weekend, not the results but, like, the
event, and I can tell you that I personally exceeded those
expectations,” he added. “So very, very happy for that. Very
blessed. I hope that we can do it many more times.”
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Shane Van Gisbergen drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at
Hermanos Rodríguez race track in Mexico City, Sunday, June 15, 2025.
(AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as
he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race
ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year
with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured
outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958.
Bell finished second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. He was
followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex
Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan,
withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick
Chevrolet.
Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John
Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of
JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the
highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth
and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.
Chevrolets took five of the top-10 positions, including the victory.
Stenhouse vs. Hocevar
The ongoing feud between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Carson Hocevar
continued after the race as a furious Stenhouse reached inside
Hocevar's cockpit on pit road.
He seemed to grab at Hocevar as he spoke to him, then slapped at his
helmet as Stenhouse walked away. It wasn't clear what Stenhouse was
upset about, but he's been furious with Hocevar for three
consecutive weeks, dating to contact between the two at Nashville.
Hocevar's in-car camera captured the audio of the confrontation.
“I'm going to beat your (butt),” Stenhouse threatened. “You're a lap
down, you've got nothing to do. Why you run right into me? It's the
second time. I'm going to beat your (butt) when we get back to the
States.”
Hocevar said after the race he couldn't really hear Stenhouse.
“I know he was very mad and I was very apologetic,” Hocevar said. “I
got in the marbles and slid a lot longer than I expected to. Number
one, not somebody I would ever want to hit again. But number two, I
was basically just logging laps. I tried to turn left and avoid him.
Just a really sloppy day for me.”
Gordon gives command
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to give the command
for drivers to start their engines and admitted before the race he'd
done some practicing.
Why? Because he incorporated both English and Spanish in his
delivery of the most famous words in racing.
“Hola Mexico!” Gordon shouted. "Pilotos start your engines!
Up Next
NASCAR races next Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where Ryan Blaney won
last year.
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