Shane van Gisbergen put on a masterclass at Charlotte's Roval on October 5, 2025, storming to his fifth NASCAR Cup Series victory of a remarkable rookie campaign. The 36-year-old New Zealander, already known for his road course prowess, crossed the finish line more than 18 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Kyle Larson, in a race that had everything: fierce wheel-to-wheel battles, playoff heartbreaks, and dramatic late-race twists that left fans breathless.
Van Gisbergen's win was his fifth of the season—and, incredibly, all have come on road courses. While he was no longer a playoff contender after a tough opening round, the Trackhouse Racing star proved he could still shake up the championship picture, playing the spoiler to several hopefuls desperate to advance. His performance at the Roval was nothing short of dominant, but it wasn't without its share of drama.
With just 14 laps to go, the race reached a fever pitch. Larson, piloting the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, held the lead, but van Gisbergen and Joe Gibbs Racing's Christopher Bell were in hot pursuit. The tension boiled over as van Gisbergen dove down the inside of Larson at turn seven, colliding with the leader and sparking a heated exchange. The pair traded bumps and barbs, but van Gisbergen eventually muscled his way past with 12 laps remaining, sweeping by on the back straight. Larson, not one to back down, gave van Gisbergen's rear bumper a final nudge before settling into second.
After the race, van Gisbergen reflected on the battle with characteristic candor. Speaking to Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the 'Dale Jr. Download,' he said, "Oh, I loved it. And I started it by giving a little tap at seven by accident, and he just swerved right down into me, and then it was on, and passing him, and he kept bumping me wide, and I'm all for that, you know." He added, "I bought it on by starting it accidentally, but then it got rough, and then once I caught him later, I passed him. But yeah, like some of the other stuff you see going on in the field, like the [Carson] Hocevar thing or Daniel [Suarez] even at the last corner, you'd get crucified for that at home. But really, I like it here because you kind of with Kyle and I, it sorts itself out, and it's respectful afterwards, and you had a hard race, and it's between you guys. He wasn't going to grandstand me, or I wasn't going to do the same to him, but you race hard and fair cause it's for a race win. So, yeah, I really enjoy the style of racing here and there's obviously a line that can be crossed sometimes, but I feel like everyone I've been against has raced me hard but fair."
Larson, for his part, echoed the sentiment, telling Bob Pockrass after the race, "[Van Gisbergen] bombed it in on seven and drove right into the side of me. So, I was like, 'Alright, well, I’m going to hit you a couple of times here now.' It kind of brought Bell back into the mix of it, and then yeah, once he got back into second, I was like, 'Alright, I’m done being crazy here,' because I feel like at that point we were even and I didn’t want to get to where he owed me again."
While the duel between van Gisbergen and Larson was the headline act, the playoff battle further down the order was equally gripping. Ross Chastain, fighting for his playoff life, found himself in a tense points showdown with defending champion Joey Logano for the final spot in the Round of 8. Chastain, driving the No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, had run 12 positions ahead of Logano late in the race despite two costly pit lane mistakes. But as the laps wound down, the pressure mounted.
In a desperate bid to hold onto his advantage, Chastain made a critical error in the closing chicane. After going wide in turn seven and surrendering a spot to Denny Hamlin, Chastain spun Hamlin out in the final chicane, sending both cars into a wild spin. Chastain crossed the finish line in reverse, losing two more positions—including a crucial one to Logano. When the dust settled, Logano finished 20th and Chastain 21st. Thanks to the tiebreaker, Logano advanced to the next playoff round, keeping his title defense alive by the narrowest of margins.
Chastain was visibly devastated after the race, owning up to his mistakes. He called them "unforced errors" and admitted only he was to blame for the heartbreaking exit. It was a tough pill to swallow for a driver who had shown so much promise throughout the regular season.
The playoff carnage didn't end there. Both 23XI Racing drivers, Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, were eliminated after early race incidents, unable to recover from touches in the first two races of the round. Penske's Austin Cindric also saw his championship hopes dashed, rounding out a night of high drama and shattered dreams for several big names.
For van Gisbergen, the victory was a sweet reminder of his road course expertise and a statement of intent as he looks to build on his rookie campaign. Despite being out of playoff contention, he continues to impress fans and competitors alike with his aggressive yet fair racing style. His joy at the challenge of NASCAR's unique brand of road course racing was palpable: "I really enjoy the style of racing here and there's obviously a line that can be crossed sometimes, but I feel like everyone I've been against has raced me hard but fair."
As for Larson, the runner-up finish was enough to lock him into the next playoff round, thanks to strong stage points earlier in the race. He now sets his sights on Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where a fourth career win at the 1.5-mile oval would punch his ticket to the championship finale in Phoenix. Christopher Bell, who finished third, also secured his place in the Round of 8, keeping his title hopes alive.
The Roval once again delivered a wild mix of speed, strategy, and heartbreak, with van Gisbergen's name etched into the record books as the fifth rookie driver to score five road course wins in a single season. As the NASCAR Cup Series heads west for the next round, the playoff picture is as unpredictable as ever, and the drama is far from over.
With only eight drivers left in the hunt for the championship and several stars nursing bruised egos, all eyes turn to Las Vegas. Will Larson cash in on his momentum? Can van Gisbergen finally conquer an oval? One thing's for sure: after a night like this at the Roval, nothing in NASCAR's playoffs can be taken for granted.