SHANE van GISBERGEN
No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro
Shane van Gisbergen started 28th, as per the rule book, after qualifying for the Sci Aps 200 was canceled due to weather.
The field began the race on wet-weather tires. The first caution of the day came out on lap 11 for a competition caution for the entire field to switch to slick tires. The No. 97 team took four tires and fuel, gaining seven positions on pit road and returning to the field in 17th place with 29 laps remaining in stage one. With 15 laps to go in the stage, the team opted to pit under caution to inspect the brakes and put on scuff tires used for one lap in Friday's practice. Van Gisbergen crossed the green-and-white checkered flag to end stage one in 24th place.
The No. 97 WeatherTech team pitted during the stage break caution for four new tires, fuel, and adjustments. Van Gisbergen battled throughout the stage and held onto his position, finishing it in 24th.
Van Gisbergen pitted under the stage break caution for new tires, fuel & adjustments, starting Stage three in 18th. The No. 97 battled in the top 20 through the first 50 laps in the stage, reaching 17th. With 50 laps remaining in the race, the No. 97 team pitted under green for four tires and fuel. Van Gisbergen ran his fastest lap (31.207 seconds) of the race with 36 laps remaining. The first caution of the stage came out with 32 laps remaining, and Van Gisbergen opted to pit under yellow to get four scuffed tires, restarting 16th. Van Gisbergen took the checkered flag in 19th.
"It’s so crazy going into a race and never seeing the place before. Struggled a bit on the wets, but once we got back on the slicks, it was good. Had some fun, learned and got better and better every stage. Feeling pretty competitive on ovals, looking forward to next week."
- Shane van Gisbergen