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SVG Takes Fifth Win of Season as Playoff Madness Unfolds

SVG Takes Fifth Win of Season as Playoff Madness Unfolds
Photo Credit to Jordan Bank/Getty Images

NASCAR

Shane van Gisbergen Tames the Charlotte Roval ahead of Cut Line Drama

CONCORD, N.C. – The Charlotte Roval’s winner may have been a foregone conclusion coming into the weekend. Few could have predicted what else happened on the last lap though. Shane van Gisbergen continues to be unstoppable on the road. The Trackhouse 88 picked up a fifth consecutive circuit win with 57 laps led. Far behind him, however, Playoff cut line drama was at an all-time high. New life is breathed once again into a dangerous competitor.

Despite starting second, Shane van Gisbergen found the lead in no time. The 88 took command on lap five and converted a large lead into a Stage 1 win. The second Stage would go in the favor of Ryan Blaney. SVG meanwhile methodically got to fifth after restarting 12th.

The opening run of Stage 3 briefly saw SVG get snookered by past Roval winners Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell. In a masterful display of patience and racing discipline, SVG slowly trimmed down a six-plus second deficit to regain the lead with 23 laps left.

Van Gisbergen’s final pit stop saw him exit pit road three seconds behind Larson. On fresher tires, alas, the road racing ace erased this gap in no time and retook command with 12 laps left. This wasn’t without some trading paint withe the 5 though, with both drivers going all out for this position.

SVG ultimately drove off to a winning margin of 15 seconds. The Roval reared its ugly head and Playoff cut line chaos unfolded behind him though to steal headlines. Racing for every point possible on the cut line, Ross Chastain made last-corner contact with Denny Hamlin, spinning both drivers. Two fateful cars just meandered by Chastain to leave him on the outside looking in for the Round of 8. This major turn of events gave the eighth and final berth to reigning champion Joey Logano.

“Just started getting hot and sliding around, but what an awesome race,” van Gisbergen said. “Kyle and Christopher driving really good and got a little rough, but man, the battle was awesome.”

“I lost it a little bit at the start of Stage 3, and whatever they did for the rest of the race, unbelievable. Really enjoyed that, and that was a long time waiting hoping the yellow wasn’t going to come out.”

“I gave them a little bump at [turn] seven and he slammed me, and that sort of set it off, but I’m all for it. It was fun. I hope he’s not too pissed off, but hope it was good to watch too.”

Also eliminated from title contention after the Roval were the 23XI Racing duo of Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, along with Team Penske’s Austin Cindric.

A distant dot in SVG’s rearview mirror was Kyle Larson, who pitted late for tires and made a clutch pass over Christopher Bell. Road racing standouts Chris Buescher and Michael McDowell would round out the top-five. The rest of the top-10 were: Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, and Tyler Reddick. Hear from a few of these drivers below.

The Round of 8 kicks off Sunday from the high-stakes Las Vegas Motor Speedway. One of the eight title hopefuls going to victory lane next week means an automatic berth to the Championship 4 in Phoenix. The South Point 400 goes green Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. The Cup winner has won the Round of 8 opener multiple times before, next week may see a championship caliber performance.

Written by Peter Stratta

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Photo Credit to Jordan Bank/Getty Images

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