CONCORD, N.C. — Most weeks of the NASCAR season, the race winner takes the checkered flag a few car lengths in front of the competition. They then start the cooldown lap while the rest of the field slows just behind them.
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This was not the case for Shane van Gisbergen on Sunday at the Charlotte Roval. He built up such an advantage that he got to experience winning the race and watching the race at the same time.
Not many drivers can say that.
"I was a bit of a race fan for the last 10 laps or so trying to see what was happening on the big screen," van Gisbergen said in response to a question from FanBuzz. "That took my mind, hoping a caution wasn't going to come out. I was trying to just watch the race."
Shane van Gisbergen wins on the Charlotte Roval!
Also ... DENNY HAMLIN AND ROSS CHASTAIN GET TOGETHER ON THE LAST LAP. Chastain backs across the finish line. But it wasn't enough. pic.twitter.com/Vo89xzNC5d
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 5, 2025
The Trackhouse Racing driver had a massive advantage in the closing laps at the Roval, due to both the long-run speed of his car and the pit strategy by his main challenger. Kyle Larson had headed down pit road with eight laps remaining in the race.
Larson put on fresh tires, which would have benefited him if the caution flew in the closing laps. This did not happen, so van Gisbergen just had to worry about Christopher Bell, who remained nearly 20 seconds behind.
Larson ultimately passed Bell for second place, but he could not get within 15 seconds of van Gisbergen. At that point, the Trackhouse Racing driver just needed to worry about a potentially worn right rear tire and a late caution that would send the race to overtime.
Photo credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography
He also had some questions about teammate Ross Chastain, who battled furiously to keep his spot above the cutline and Joey Logano so he could advance to the Round of 8.
"I sort of was watching the big screen trying to see how Ross was going," van Gisbergen said. "I saw most of the last stint there. I focused on them. I was just hoping Ross went through."
As van Gisbergen approached the start-finish line to cap off his cooldown lap, he saw smoke and spinning cars. He didn't initially know the cause, but he learned it was Chastain and Denny Hamlin spinning in the frontstretch chicane.
This is not the first time that van Gisbergen has built up such a massive advantage in the closing laps of a road course race. He won by 16.567 seconds in Mexico City and 11.16 seconds at Watkins Glen International.
Yet, Sunday at the Roval may have been the first time that he got to sit back and watch the rest of the race as he cruised to the win.
