Shane van Gisbergen Extends His Chicago Dominance with Historic NASCAR Sweep

Shane van Gisbergen has firmly established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the streets of Chicago, delivering another commanding performance that underscores his growing legacy in NASCAR. With his latest victory in the Cup Series, the New Zealander now boasts four wins in five starts across both the Xfinity and Cup Series at Chicago, continuing a nearly flawless streak in the Windy City.

The only blemish on his Chicago record came during the 2024 Cup race, where his hopes were dashed after being wrecked out of contention. Still, his dominance on road and street courses remains undisputed—and with each race, van Gisbergen continues to break new ground.

Joining NASCAR’s Winning Elite

Van Gisbergen’s latest win catapults him into an exclusive club. He now joins Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell as one of only four drivers with multiple NASCAR Cup Series victories this season. Within his own team, Trackhouse Racing, SVG is now the winningest driver of 2025, surpassing Ross Chastain, who has one victory at the Coca-Cola 600, while Daniel Suarez has yet to visit Victory Lane this season.

This latest triumph, however, isn't just another checkered flag—it’s a milestone moment in NASCAR history.

A Historic Climb for Foreign-Born Drivers

With victories at Chicago (2023), the inaugural Mexico City Cup race, and once again in Chicago this past weekend, van Gisbergen has officially become the most successful foreign-born driver in NASCAR Cup Series history. His three wins move him past the likes of Juan Pablo Montoya, Daniel Suarez, and fellow Supercars standout Marcos Ambrose, all of whom have two Cup wins each.

It’s a stunning achievement in such a short span—and one that redefines what's possible for international talent on NASCAR's biggest stage.

Setting a Rookie Benchmark Not Seen in Two Decades

Though his driving speaks volumes, it's easy to forget that van Gisbergen is still a rookie in the Cup Series. With two victories already under his belt, he's tied the record for the most wins by a rookie since Denny Hamlin captured two in 2006. And with three road course races still remaining on the 2025 schedule, SVG is on track to surpass that.

The last time a rookie secured three Cup wins in a single season was Tony Stewart in 1999—a comparison that speaks volumes about the level SVG is operating at.

Matching the Legends in Speed and Efficiency

Van Gisbergen’s rapid success has drawn comparisons to the early careers of Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, two of the sport's greats. Reaching three Cup wins in just 33 starts, SVG is matching the pace of Stewart’s 1999 rookie campaign and is just behind Johnson, who earned three wins in only 16 starts during the 2002 season.

This kind of meteoric rise is rare, particularly for a driver transitioning from a Supercars background, and it underscores how quickly van Gisbergen has adapted to NASCAR’s top level.

A Weekend Sweep That Ranks Among the Best

Perhaps the most remarkable feat of van Gisbergen’s Chicago weekend was his sweep across both major NASCAR series. After grabbing pole position in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, he led the field to victory. Then on Sunday, he repeated the performance in the Cup Series, becoming only the second driver in NASCAR history to win from pole in both series on the same weekend.

The only other driver to accomplish this rare double is Kyle Busch, who achieved it at Indianapolis in 2016.

A New Era of Street Course Excellence

Van Gisbergen’s growing list of accolades is rewriting what’s expected from Cup rookies and international drivers alike. With his eyes set on more road course events this season, and his momentum only building, SVG is poised to continue this exceptional run and perhaps reshape NASCAR’s future one lap at a time.