Shane van Gisbergen Wins First Career Xfinity Race at Portland

Shane van Gisbergen celebrating in Victory Lane after winning at Portland International Raceway. (Photo: Myk Crawford | The Podium Finish)

PORTLAND, Ore. — When it was announced that Shane van Gisbergen, who burst onto the scene after winning the inaugural Chicago Street Race last season, was running full-time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the question was when he would find Victory Lane again.

After nearly winning at COTA in March, heading to Portland for the second road course race of the year made van Gisbergen one of the favorites to claim the win, especially after qualifying second.

Even though it was a sloppy one for SVG, he would rebound and get back to the front when it mattered to win the Pacific Office Automation 147.

“Quadlock Chevy, thanks to Kaulig Racing, Trackhouse guys,” van Gisbergen said. “What a day, really cool, had some great racing.”

The win was the first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory for van Gisbergen and also punched his ticket to the playoffs. Van Gisbergen was on the outside looking in for the postseason, making this win huge for the New Zealander.

It was not an easy win for van Gisbergen as some sloppy moments made him have to battle for the win late. On the initial start of the race, van Gisbergen made contact with pole-sitter Sam Mayer going into Turn 1 sending the No. 1 car around.

SVG also had a few miscues of running into the grass a few times, even running off the track on Lap 36 while running in the third position. But when it became crunch time and with the help of a few late race cautions, van Gisbergen was able to get around both Sheldon Creed and Justin Allgaier with aggressive moves to take the win.

Shane van Gisbergen in the media center with his trophy after winning the Pacific Office Automotive 147. (Photo: Erik Smith | The Podium Finish)

“Firstly I’m very sorry to Sam Mayer and the (No.) 1 team for the first corner,” van Gisbergen said. “I just mucked up there and just clipped him, so very sorry.”

“I need to get better on my restarts and learn how to position, but that was so much fun. I love these cars, they’re great.”

The dominant car of the race was Allgaier, who swept both stages and led a race-high 46 laps. Allgaier ran away with the lead and was able to hold on for a few restarts until the final restart and was passed with just four laps to go.

“I don’t know,” Allgaier said on what he could’ve done differently. “On those restarts, we were so free taking off, and the car was just struggling to get grip.”

That’s what led to the pass for the lead in Turn 5 when Allgaier got loose and van Gisbergen was able to pounce on the opportunity.

“I think that’s the hardest part, once he got by me there, I probably overdrove it trying to get back to him and probably didn’t help my cause any,” Allgaier continued. “Really proud of this team. All the effort this team puts forward is incredible. To come in second two years in a row stings a little bit, but at the same time, really proud of everybody.”

Sammy Smith sneakily found his way to the front and finished on the podium earning back-to-back third-place finishes. The finish was also big for Smith as the 19-year-old driver now finds himself back above the playoff cutline at +20 points.

Shane van Gisbergen racing during the Pacific Office Automotive 147 at Portland International Raceway. (Photo: Myk Crawford | The Podium Finish)

With nine laps to go Smith made a three-wide pass going into Turn 1 between Chandler Smith and Ryan Truex, clearing both and moving up into fifth place. Then on the ensuing restart with four to go, Smith made it up to fourth, and after Mayer had a tire problem he moved into third place and would go on to finish there.

“It was a long day, we obviously started kind of ninth, 10th there and stayed there for Stage 1,” Smith said. “Then spun out there in Stage 2 and had to work our way back up.”

“So good job to everyone at these JRM teams, Pilot Flying J, TMC, everyone that’s been sticking with us lately,” said Smith. “We’ve started to run where we wanted to these last couple of weeks and it’s started to show. Just got to keep this momentum going into Sonoma.”

AJ Allmendinger rebounded from a crash in qualifying to finish in fourth and Ed Jones scored his first career top-five finish.

Then rounding out the top 10 were Cole Custer, Josh Williams, Parker Kligerman, Parker Retzlaff and Riley Herbst.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Riley Herbst
3. Sheldon Creed
4. Josh Bilicki
5. Parker Kligerman
6. Sammy Smith
7. Cole Custer
8. Ryan Truex
9. Austin Hill
10. Sage Karam

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Sheldon Creed
3. Josh Bilicki
4. Cole Custer
5. Shane van Gisbergen
6. Chandler Smith
7. Riley Herbst
8. Sage Karam
9. Sam Mayer
10. Ed Jones

Pacific Office Automotive 147 at Portland International Raceway Results