Shane van Gisbergen “stoked” after third-place end at Atlanta

Regardless of having to pit twice through the break between Levels 2 and three to repair a possible fender rub, van Gisbergen had powered again up the sector to eleventh through the lengthy inexperienced flag run within the closing stage.

When a number of vehicles ran out of gasoline with two of the scheduled 163 laps remaining – and NASCAR was compelled to throw a warning for one stopped on the observe – van Gisbergen’s No. 97 Kaulig Racing workforce took no probabilities and introduced him down pit highway for a splash of gasoline.

He lined up eighth on begin of the two-lap extra time. Whereas a number of extra vehicles fell off tempo out of gasoline on the restart, van Gisbergen made his method to third earlier than Austin Hill took the checkered flag for the win.

“Fairly superior,” the 34-year-old Kiwi stated after the race. “Nice job by Bruce (Schlicker, crew chief) on the field there to pit us (earlier than extra time). I had a lot enjoyable. Simply studying about it and operating within the pack.

“Yeah, to be P3 within the second race is fairly superior. I’m stoked.”

The three-time Supercars champion, who’s operating a full Xfinity and partial Cup schedule with Kaulig this yr, had a tough season debut final weekend, getting caught up in an accident on Lap 3 of the Daytona ARCA Menards Sequence race.

Final Monday evening’s rain-delayed Xfinity debut produced a a lot better end result – he completed twelfth and on the lead lap – but in addition included involvement in a single multi-car wreck and a number of other minor mishaps.

Van Gisbergen, who was making simply his fourth begin on an oval observe in a inventory automotive, was particularly happy to stay out of hassle in Saturday’s race.

“It’s simply good to get a end result and have a clear automotive, particularly after final week once I bought concerned in a lot stuff,” he stated. “So, to have a clear race, not make too many errors, and full each lap, we discovered so much.

“It was superior.”

He leaves Atlanta ninth within the NXS championship standings.

Final July, van Gisbergen turned the primary driver in additional than 60 years to win a Cup race in his debut when he took victory within the inaugural Chicago Road Race driving for Trackhouse Racing. The victory served because the instigator for the Kiwi to maneuver to NASCAR competitors this season.

Even van Gisbergen’s former Supercars workforce saved observe of his efficiency Saturday.

Throughout qualifying for Race #2 of the Supercars season-opener at Mount Panorama, the Triple Eight Crimson Bull workforce watched the race from the Bathurst storage as he competed at Atlanta.