Jeff Gordon reflects on how to grow NASCAR’s popularity
Jeff Gordon discusses the popularity of NASCAR and how the sport can continue to grow.
Sports Seriously
- Shane van Gisbergen won his second Chicago Street Race in three attempts, leading 26 of 75 laps.
- Michael McDowell led the first 31 laps but finished 32nd after experiencing car trouble.
The betting favorites are favorites for a reason.
Entering the third Chicago Street Race weekend as the overwhelming leader on the odds board, Shane van Gisbergen showed why on July 6.
He claimed his second Grant Park 165 victory in three attempts, snatching the lead from Chase Briscoe with 16 laps to go. Ty Gibbs finished as the runner-up.
SVG also won the Xfinity Series event Saturday. In five attempts on the downtown Windy City course, he’s claimed four checkered flags in the top two circuits.
“What an amazing weekend,” van Gisbergen said.
Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch filled out the rest of the top five.
Here are three takeaways:
1. Shane van Gisbergen dominates Chicago road course again
SVG is still working to perfect the ovals. But the former SuperCars star has had no problems on the NASCAR road courses.
All three of his career Cup Series wins have occurred at those tracks. Other than his two Chicago triumphs, he won at Mexico City last month.
Sunday, he led 26 of the 75 laps, placing him behind only Michael McDowell, who paced the pack for the first 31. Three other drivers led: Briscoe (13 laps), Ryan Blaney (three) and AJ Allmendinger (two).
After starting on the pole, van Gisbergen stayed near the front throughout the afternoon. He controlled the final 16 laps.
Safe to say he’ll be sad if the Chicago Street Race doesn’t return in 2026 and beyond.
“Yeah, I love this place,” van Gisbergen said.
2. Michael McDowell’s strong showing ends early
After qualifying second, McDowell collected a Stage 1 victory. It was the first stage win in the history of Spire Motorsports.
Blaney won Stage 2.
Throughout the first 31 laps, McDowell kept van Gisbergen at bay off his back bumper. After that, he ran into trouble.
Van Gisbergen overtook McDowell when the latter pitted with the throttle stuck open in his No. 71 car. His team went behind the wall for repairs, which yanked him from contention. McDowell placed 32nd.
He has just two top-10 finishes this season — a seventh at Charlotte and a fifth at Mexico City.
3. NASCAR schedule: In-Season Challenge continues at Sonoma
NASCAR visits its second straight road course next week, though this trip will be a little more traditional than the third edition of the Chicago Street Race.
Sonoma Raceway will host the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at 3:30 p.m. July 13. The West Coast track joined the Cup Series schedule in 1989.
The race will serve as the third event — the Round of 8 — of the In-Season Challenge.
Last year, Kyle Larson claimed the checkered flag at Sonoma.
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