Shane van Gisbergen locked up another pole position at Sonoma Raceway, but this time he’s warning everyone about something that could turn Sunday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race into complete chaos. The JR Motorsports driver made history by becoming only the second driver after Kyle Busch to sweep pole positions in the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series the same weekend. Now he’s got his eyes on the conditions that could shake up everything on race day.
What Makes This Sonoma Weekend Different for Shane Van Gisbergen?
The JR Motorsports driver secured the front row starting position at Sonoma Raceway for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race. As van Gisbergen continues his dominant run, capturing pole positions twice the same weekend across two different series, the driver shared his thoughts about a significant change at Sonoma that could create chaos during race day.
Van Gisbergen expressed his appreciation to his team after qualifying.
“Race runs were okay, but qualifying to be front row for the team, thank you to JR Motorsports,” van Gisbergen said. “Car is really, really good, and yes, [I’m] having fun out there and awesome to have my friends from Australia coddling up back in the car. Looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
However, van Gisbergen then went on to explain the one significant change at Sonoma that has the potential to create trouble on race day.
“It’s hotter than last year, so it’s a bit slippery,” van Gisbergen said. “The car is quite different from last year.”
The temperature difference isn’t just a minor detail for van Gisbergen.
“Just trying to get used to that and how the car reacts,” van Gisbergen continued. “At Chicago, they weren’t too different, but compared to what I had here last year, they are quite a bit different. Just trying to get it a bit centered, but I feel good.”
.@shanevg97 wins the @NASCAR_Xfinity pole for the second straight week at Sonoma! pic.twitter.com/I5LCrw2tTh
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) July 11, 2025
The adjustments van Gisbergen described highlight just how much conditions can vary from track to track in NASCAR. Fortunately for him and the field, Friday’s qualifying session avoided the drama that has plagued other recent events.
How Did Qualifying Compare to Recent NASCAR Controversies?
While the Cup Series street race at Chicago in Grant Park was marred by controversy, with delays in raising the caution flag, the qualifying session for Sonoma ran much smoother. The session was largely incident-free, despite some off-track moments that kept spectators interested.
Those moments included a spin by Will Rodgers and separate incidents involving Travis Kvapil and Josh Bilicki, which ended up with both drivers in the dirt. Despite these minor dramas, qualifying proceeded without the significant delays that plagued other recent NASCAR events.
Meanwhile, van Gisbergen has been putting on a show across multiple NASCAR divisions. He’s been capturing top starting positions in different series, reaching significant milestones. The performance has fans buzzing about what they might see from the driver during Sunday’s race.
Van Gisbergen has already established himself as a serious contender on the track, and his recent success only adds to that reputation. The No. 9 Chevrolet SS driver has five career pole positions in the Xfinity Series, adding another achievement to his growing NASCAR resume.