TC Daily Pit Stop: Shane Van Gisbergen Wins On Debut in Chicago; Custer Named Winner of Xfinity Race; Highlights from Sunday at Chicago

TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, July 3rd, 2023

Jul 03, 2023

Photo Credit: Harold Hinson, HHP, Chevy Racing

There’s nothing more exciting than a storybook ending, and on Sunday, after record-breaking rainfall, fans that stuck around for the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series event on the Chicago Street Course were treated to just that.

Shane Van Gisbergen, making his NASCAR Cup Series debut as part of Trackhouse Racing’s PROJECT91 program, pulled off something that simply doesn’t happen anymore, a victory on debut in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The 34-year-old driver was able to slice through the pack throughout the final stage of the race, before having to make the pass for the victory on a late-race restart, getting around the then race leader, Justin Haley.

Haley would come home in second-place, while Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, and Kyle Busch completed the top-five. Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs, and Chris Buescher completed the top-10.

RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS
DRIVER STANDINGS
OWNER STANDINGS
INSPECTION REPORT

Winning Sunday’s Grant Park 220, Shane Van Gisbergen is the first driver to win on debut in the NASCAR Cup Series since Johnny Rutherford in 1963, and only the seventh driver ever.

Heavy Rain Forces NASCAR to Declare Cole Custer Winner of Xfinity Chicago Street Race

Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett, NKP, Courtesy of Ford Performance

Saturday’s The Loop 121 at the Chicago Street Course was scheduled to resume on Sunday, after lightning loomed in the area throughout the night on Saturday. However, things didn’t go to plan.

With record-breaking rainfall, NASCAR was forced to call an audible, making the event official after only 25 of 55 laps, contrary to what NASCAR usually does in these situations, when a race must make it to halfway or the end of the second stage.

Thus, Cole Custer was declared the winner, scoring his second win of 2023 and the 12th Xfinity Series win of his career for Stewart-Haas Racing.

John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier, Brett Moffitt, and Austin Hill completed the top-five in the event. Sammy Smith, Daniel Hemric, Chandler Smith, Parker Kligerman, and Kaz Grala were also credited with top-10s.

RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS
DRIVER POINTS
OWNER POINTS
INSPECTION REPORT

At 25 laps (55 miles), Saturday’s The Loop 121 at the Chicago Street Course is officially the shortest race (in distance) in the history of the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Managing Editor of TobyChristie.com | Founder of Srigley Stats

TC Daily Pit Stop: Shane Van Gisbergen Wins On Debut in Chicago; Custer Named Winner of Xfinity Race; Highlights from Sunday at Chicago

TC Daily Pit Stop: Monday, July 3rd, 2023

GRANT PARK 200 - IN-RACE HIGHLIGHT VIDEOS:

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