Shane van Gisbergen wins Cup race at Mexico City

MEXICO CITY -- Shane van Gisbergen erstwhile again mastered a caller way -- this 1 the iconic Mexico City roadworthy people -- to triumph NASCAR's archetypal Cup Series points-paying contention extracurricular the United States successful the modern era.

The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday astatine Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to gain his archetypal Cup triumph since helium won successful his NASCAR debut astatine the inaugural 2023 thoroughfare people contention successful Chicago. That triumph changed his vocation trajectory, and van Gisbergen near Australia V8 Supercars, wherever helium was a aggregate champion, for a full-time determination to NASCAR.

Although helium had occurrence successful the Xfinity Series -- helium won 3 races past twelvemonth arsenic Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series thrust -- van Gisbergen has struggled this twelvemonth astatine NASCAR's apical level.

He started the contention ranked 33rd successful the Cup standings with lone 1 top-10 decorativeness done the archetypal 15 races of the season. But his triumph successful Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR's playoffs with a changeable to contention for the Cup Series championship.

Van Gisbergen benefitted from an aboriginal pop-up rainfall ablution connected the archetypal thigh of the contention due to the fact that he's an exceptionally skilled operator connected a bedewed surface. His triumph astatine Chicago was successful monsoon-like conditions.

He won the rod successful Mexico City and started the contention arsenic the betting favorite, peculiarly since rainfall was successful the forecast. He had to contend with respective challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the pb for bully with 31 laps remaining.

Trackhouse present has 2 of its drivers -- Ross Chastain and van Gisbergen -- locked into the playoffs. But it was a spot of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey autochthonal who thrilled the hometown assemblage with a triumph successful the Xfinity Series contention connected Saturday, arsenic helium failed to situation his teammate for the triumph and finished 19th.

Suarez, who appeared to beryllium blinking backmost tears arsenic helium sang on with the Mexican nationalist anthem successful pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the location triumph successful this declaration twelvemonth with Trackhouse. He was the look of this lawsuit arsenic NASCAR ventured extracurricular the U.S. with its apical bid for the archetypal clip since 1958.

Bell finished 2nd successful a Toyota for JGR -- 16.567 seconds down the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott successful a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who wounded his backmost successful a clang past week astatine Michigan, withstood the symptom for a fourth-place decorativeness successful his Hendrick Chevrolet.

Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was 5th and followed by John Hunter Nemechek successful a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory arsenic the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded retired the apical 10.

Chevrolets took 5 of the top-10 positions, including the victory.

Bad time for Busch

Kyle Busch, who started the contention astatine the bottommost of the playoff standings, suffered a monolithic setback erstwhile helium crashed retired of the contention connected the sixth thigh and finished past successful the 37-car field.

Busch, who was ranked 15th successful the Cup Series standings erstwhile helium arrived successful Mexico City, blamed the incidental connected the bedewed track.

"Just successful the rain, and I went down into (Turn) 11 and got connected the brakes beauteous hard, and everything was fine, everything was comfortable, stopped truly good," helium said. "And I'm similar 'OK I tin beryllium a small much assertive getting into 1,' and I figured it was going to beryllium fine, and arsenic soon arsenic I went to the brakes, it was similar being connected ice, and I was conscionable sliding.

"About a 2nd a fractional oregon so, I was trying to fig retired which absorption to go, and I was similar I've got to crook this happening astir backward, due to the fact that I'm going to nail immoderate people. Hate it for each those progressive successful my mishap. I hatred that the rainfall came and present it's bully and dry. Just person to spell combat for much points successful different week."

Gordon gives command

NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon was selected to springiness the bid for drivers to commencement their engines and admitted earlier the contention he'd done immoderate practicing.

Why? Because helium incorporated some English and Spanish successful his transportation of the astir celebrated words successful racing.

"Hola Mexico!" Gordon shouted. "Pilotos commencement your engines!

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