On Sunday, Shane van Gisbergen made history as the first NASCAR Cup Series race winner in Mexico. Winning the Viva Mexico 250 has also seen van Gisbergen reach a few more milestones.
Shane van Gisbergen Ties 65-Year NASCAR Record With Mexico Win
Van Gisbergen has two NASCAR Cup Series wins under his belt after his successful drive at Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez. The Kiwi ace debuted in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2023 in the Grant Park 220 at Chicago Street Course.
He became the first driver in six decades to win his first two races in the inaugural Cup races at a track. Driving the No. 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, the three-time Supercars champion stormed from eighth on a Lap 61 restart to win NASCAR’s first street race in Chicago.
Van Gisbergen started third in Chicago’s 37-car lineup but dropped to 18th mid-race. But he managed to overtake race leader Justin Haley with five laps remaining and seal a memorable debut win.
It was also the first win for the No.91 car in 70 years.
Shane van Gisbergen’s win at Chicago was the first victory for the 91 car in 70 years (May of 1953). pic.twitter.com/OSZy06PV7n
— Trey Ryan (@TreyRyan99) July 3, 2023
Van Gisbergen had to wait two years for his next Cup Series win. Given his knack for making history, it was fitting that his latest victory came in Mexico City.
Just as he did during his NASCAR debut in the first Chicago street race two years ago, the New Zealander dominated another inaugural race.
He continued his impressive start to his NASCAR career by grabbing the pole and leading 60 of 100 laps en route to a dominant win in Mexico. He pulled away steadily in the closing stages, increasing his margin by nearly a second per lap, and with this performance, he won his first provisional playoff berth.
Driving the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing, he cruised to a commanding 16.567-second win over Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell. It’s the largest Cup Series margin of victory since Kurt Busch’s win in Texas in November 2009.
With his win in Mexico, van Gisbergen joined rare company. He became the first driver since Marvin Porter in 1960 to win his first two NASCAR Cup races at brand-new venues.
Shane van Gisbergen wins at Mexico City, he is the first driver since Marvin Porter in 1960 to win his first two races in inaugural Cup races at a track.
SVG won by 16.567 seconds, the largest margin of victory in the Cup Series since Kurt Busch at Texas in Fall 2009. pic.twitter.com/tWC107zxoW
— NASCAR Insights (@NASCARInsights) June 15, 2025
Van Gisbergen’s win in Mexico carried extra weight, not just for the records, but for the hurdles he had to overcome. Struck with stomach issues on race day and working with a team that arrived a day late due to travel woes, his win was as gritty as it was historic.
The 36-year-old celebrated the win in a special way as NASCAR set up a unique podium ceremony. As the New Zealand national anthem played out of the speakers, Gisbergen hoisted his Viva Mexico 250 trophy in front of a wild Autódromo Hermanos RodrÃguez crowd.
