Shane van Gisbergen continued his Next Gen car mastery by clinching his third Busch Light Pole Award on a road course, tying him with Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick for the most such poles in Gen-7 history.
Van Gisbergen’s blistering lap of 89.656 seconds (88.338 mph) around the 2.2-mile, 12-turn Chicago Street Course edged Michael McDowell by 0.468 seconds, delivering the Kiwi his third career Cup Series road course pole and second of the 2025 season. That performance came just hours after he swept the Xfinity Series pole earlier on Saturday, showing his remarkable adaptability across NASCAR’s top two national series.
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Record-Equaling Achievement
Van Gisbergen’s Chicago pole marks his third Busch Light Pole Award on a road course, matching the Next Gen era totals of Denny Hamlin (#11 Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing) with poles at Sonoma (2023), Chicago (2023), and Watkins Glen (2023), and Tyler Reddick (#45 Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing) with poles at Charlotte ROVAL (2022), Indianapolis Road Course (2024), and Circuit of the Americas (2025).
With his third #BuschLightPole Award on a road course, @shanevg97 ties @dennyhamlin and @TylerReddick for the most in the Next Gen car. pic.twitter.com/b8jKHhouIF
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 5, 2025
Since the introduction of the Next Gen car in 2022, no other driver has surpassed three road course poles. This achievement puts van Gisbergen in elite company and reinforces his status as NASCAR’s premier road course specialist.
The Kiwi driver’s journey to pole position wasn’t without its challenges. “Practice wasn’t that great, and I went out in qualifying, the car felt really good,” he said. “Xfinity pole, Cup pole, pretty special. Hopeful for the race tomorrow.”
Van Gisbergen’s path to pole came through three rounds of knockout qualifying, with Group 1 and Group 2 sessions setting the top 10 fastest drivers. The final round pitted those 10 against each other for one flying lap. Van Gisbergen nailed his apex and exit speeds, laying down an unchallenged 89.656-second lap on his final attempt.
The performance showcases how quickly van Gisbergen has adapted to NASCAR’s street course racing. Chicago’s tight corners and elevation changes demand precision that few drivers can match, yet the former Supercars champion made it look effortless.
Sunday’s Grant Park 165 Implications
This pole position sets up perfectly for Sunday’s race. Street courses are notoriously challenging to pass. So, starting at the front gives van Gisbergen a massive advantage. He’ll have clean air and a clear track ahead of him, which could prove decisive if weather or caution flags shake up the race.
Already locked into the playoffs after his Mexico City victory, the pole run amplifies van Gisbergen’s credentials as a title contender who can deliver on the biggest stages. The performance also represents a significant win for Trackhouse Racing’s Chevrolet program, earning the top starting spot on a course Ford and Toyota have traditionally dominated.
McDowell’s second-place qualifying effort puts the Front Row Motorsports Ford in prime position to challenge for the win. The veteran has shown flashes of brilliance on road courses throughout his career, and starting on the front row gives him his best shot at victory in 2025.
The weather could play a factor on Sunday, as Chicago’s lakefront location often brings unpredictable conditions. Rain would level the playing field and potentially shuffle the running order, but van Gisbergen has proven equally adept in wet conditions during his international racing career.
With his record-tying third Next Gen road course pole in hand, van Gisbergen has fired a powerful warning shot at both his veteran rivals and up-and-coming road course aces. Sunday’s Grant Park 165 (1 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV) promises to test whether van Gisbergen can convert qualifying dominance into victory lane and stake his claim as NASCAR’s king of the streets.