Kiwi motorsport star Shane van Gisbergen has claimed his first win in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in the United States.
The 35-year-old former pupil of Saint Kentigern College in Pakuranga was the first driver over the finish line today at the Pacific Office Automation 147 race staged at Portland International Raceway in Oregon.
He overtook driver Justin Allgaier after the final restart with just four laps left to run in the 75-lap race and went on to win by less than a second.
“What a day, really cool, had some great racing,” van Gisbergen said following the race.
“I need to get better on my restarts and learn how to position, but that was so much fun. Really cool racing. I love these cars, they’re great.”
In true van Gisbergen fashion, he celebrated his victory by performing a burnout in his Chevrolet racecar for the entire length of the road course.
“It was a popular win all-around for the 35-year-old three-time Australian Supercars champion, but he had to work for it,” NASCAR says.
“The series rookie – who won the inaugural Chicago Street Race in his first Cup Series start last summer – led laps early in the No. 97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet but struggled with race restarts for much of the day.
“He lost positions on the early restarts and even had to overcome a couple of miscues – dropping his tires off-track into the dirt – before masterfully working his way forward in the closing laps to challenge for the win.”
