Shane van Gisbergen’s hopes for another victory on the street course in downtown Chicago were dashed after being involved in an incident during the rainy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday. On Lap 25, van Gisbergen was clipped by Chase Briscoe, causing heavy damage to his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet as he crashed into a temporary wall.
Van Gisbergen expressed his disappointment, stating, “I just sort of turned in. It looked pretty good and then just got smacked by someone. It’s gutting.” The race was paused to clear standing water from the track, with Ty Gibbs leading before the delay, followed by Christopher Bell and pole-sitter Kyle Larson.
Last year, Van Gisbergen made history by winning his Cup Series debut in Chicago, becoming the first driver since 1963 to achieve this feat. Despite winning the first stage of Sunday’s race, Van Gisbergen’s day ended prematurely.
The future of the NASCAR weekend in Chicago, which combines racing and music to attract new fans, is uncertain beyond 2025, though the street course event is expected to return next season. Unlike the previous year when weather disruptions affected the schedule, this year’s race encountered rain after the drivers had started, prompting a decision on whether to switch to wet tires.
As the rain intensified around 17 laps into the race, leading to a temporary halt, Van Gisbergen missed out on the opportunity to compete further.
