photo credit: Instagram/@aussie.rob
A firsthand look reveals van Gisbergen’s commanding debut and the unique challenges of Sonoma’s road course through a new lens.
What immediately grabs your attention at Sonoma Raceway is the way each corner and crest plays tricks on your sense of balance, creating an experience entirely unlike anything you’d expect from watching a race on TV. Standing trackside for a first NASCAR road course race, watching Shane van Gisbergen rocket past in his pole-sitting car, our photographer affectionally known as “Aussie Rob” suddenly understood why people talk about this place with such reverence. The rolling Northern California terrain creates a natural amphitheater where cars disappear into dips and emerge from blind corners in ways that oval tracks simply can’t match. SVG led 97 of 110 laps from that pole position, turning what could have been a parade into a masterclass in road racing.
What struck us most was van Gisbergen’s surgical precision navigating Sonoma’s technical layout. This was his first Cup Series start at this track, yet he moved through the Esses and around Turn 4 like he’d been racing here for decades. The New Zealand driver’s adaptability became the day’s defining narrative. Here was someone who’d already swept both Cup and Xfinity races at Chicago’s street course earlier this season, now mastering an entirely different type of road racing challenge. His third win in five weeks wasn’t just impressive statistically; it felt inevitable watching him maintain that commanding lead while others struggled with the track’s demanding corners.
READ: For more photos head over to RacersandRiders.com and checkout “Behind the Lens: Shane van Gisbergen Dominates NASCAR Cup Race at Sonoma [100 photos]“
When Racing Gets Physical
The real excitement came during those intense closing stages when Chase Elliott carved through the field on fresher tires, climbing into the top four and mounting a legitimate charge. The aggressive door-to-door battles between Ross Chastain and AJ Allmendinger showcased the kind of hard racing that makes road courses special. Chase Briscoe delivered his best Sonoma performance ever, spending extended time battling for podium position, while contact between Christopher Bell and van Gisbergen added drama to an already physical race. The track claimed its victims too. Kyle Larson’s late spin collected Ryan Blaney, and Josh Berry spun Carson Hocevar, but somehow the race stayed green, allowing the intensity to build naturally.
With each win, including his most recent on a road course, Van Gisbergen continues to distinguish himself in NASCAR’s history books among drivers from abroad. While he narrowly missed sweeping the weekend after finishing second in Saturday’s Xfinity race to Connor Zilisch, his Cup Series dominance felt inevitable from those opening laps. Watching his celebration, we realized we’d witnessed something special. Not just a driver winning his fourth Cup career victory in an incredibly short span, but someone redefining what it means to master NASCAR’s diverse racing challenges. The Sonoma Road Course had provided the perfect stage for van Gisbergen’s artistry and our photographers introduction to all the action of road course racing.
