Hold onto your seats, race fans, because the Charlotte Roval just delivered a heart-pounding showdown that left drivers and spectators alike breathless! Shane van Gisbergen emerged victorious, but not without a fierce battle that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Here’s what the drivers had to say after the adrenaline-fueled race—and trust me, it’s as intense as it gets.
Shane van Gisbergen — winner: “What a race! Kyle (Larson) and Christopher (Bell) were on fire, and things got a little rough, but man, it was incredible. Our Chevy was lightning fast. I had a shaky start to Stage 3, but the team’s adjustments were unbelievable. I accidentally bumped Kyle at Turn 7, and he gave it right back—it was all part of the fun. I hope he’s not too upset, but I’m all for that kind of racing. It was a long wait, hoping the yellow flag wouldn’t come out, but we pulled it off. I hope it was as thrilling to watch as it was to drive!”
And this is the part most people miss... Van Gisbergen’s win marks his fifth consecutive road course victory in the NASCAR Cup Series, solidifying his dominance on these tracks. But here’s where it gets controversial—is his success a testament to skill, or is the competition simply not stepping up? Let us know in the comments!
Kyle Larson — second: “I’m happy with second place for our No. 5 Chevrolet team. Shane is just on another level. The battle with Christopher (Bell) was a blast, and we tried everything to disrupt Shane’s rhythm, but he was untouchable. I tried conserving my tires, but he’s just better at it. Still, it’s great momentum heading into the Round of Eight.”
Christopher Bell — third: “I’m not sure what made the difference today. It felt like any other road course race, but Shane was in a league of his own—30 seconds ahead of us. Hats off to him and the Trackhouse team. They’ve set the bar so high, and the rest of us are struggling to catch up.”
Chris Buescher — fourth: “We ran consistently in fourth all day, and I’m proud of our Ford Mustang’s performance. It was a big improvement from last week, and we’re definitely moving in the right direction. We’re hungry for more, but a top-five finish is something to celebrate.”
Michael McDowell — fifth: “Our No. 71 Chevrolet team executed flawlessly today. We had top-five speed and maintained it all day. I wish we had a bit more to challenge for the win, but I’m proud of our effort. The tire strategy was a game-changer, and Goodyear did a great job mixing things up. We’ll keep building on this for future road courses.”
Ryan Preece — sixth: “This was a strong day for us at the Roval, especially considering it’s my first time here with RFK Racing. Our Ford Mustang performed well, and this result is a great foundation to build on. It’s also a relief to break out of that ten-week slump and get back on track.”
Chase Elliott — eighth: “We tried a different strategy today, but it didn’t quite pay off. Still, our pace was respectable, and we fought our way back into the top 10. It wasn’t our day, but I’m excited to reset and head to Vegas.”
Ryan Blaney — 13th: “Not a bad day for us. We grabbed a stage win and finished decently. I’m proud of the team’s effort, and I’m looking forward to Vegas. It’s always exciting to see what we can do on a new track.”
Tyler Reddick — 10th: “We prioritized setting up for a win today, but our long-run pace just wasn’t there. We took a gamble on a caution in Stage 3, but it didn’t pan out. Looking back, we could’ve pushed harder for points, but we played it the way we thought was best.”
William Byron — 11th: “It was a challenging day, especially on the restarts. Once we got into a rhythm, our No. 24 Chevrolet felt decent. We improved toward the end, which is a positive takeaway.”
Chase Briscoe — 14th: “It was an odd day, dealing with some nausea, but I managed to focus and avoid mistakes. Not our prettiest performance, but we got the job done.”
Bubba Wallace — 15th: “The tire strategy threw me for a loop today. It’s frustrating because I know we’re capable of more. I’m disappointed, but I appreciate the team’s hard work. We’ll come back stronger.”
Joey Logano — 20th: “We’re still in it, baby! It was a close finish, and the drama of the playoffs never disappoints. Paul Wolfe made some tough calls, and while we weren’t the fastest, we’re moving on to the next round. I’m proud of the team’s championship-level performance.”
Ross Chastain — 21st: “I’d restart the whole day if I could. I made some unforced errors that cost us dearly. It’s heartbreaking for the entire Trackhouse team, and I take full responsibility. I’ll wake up tomorrow and get back to work, but this one stings.”
Denny Hamlin — 23rd: “I wasn’t aware of Ross’s playoff situation, but I don’t fault him for the final-lap move. It’s part of racing, and we’ll move on.”
Austin Dillon — 32nd: “It was a tough weekend for our Chevrolet team. We battled back after starting at the rear, but contact in Stage 3 ended our day. We’ll take the lessons and focus on the next race.”
Kyle Busch — 35th: “We got wrecked on the first lap, but the team never gave up. It wasn’t the finish we wanted, but we’ll take the learnings and aim for a win in Las Vegas.”
Austin Cindric — 37th: “The Roval chewed us up and spit us out. We dealt with a lot of damage and just couldn’t recover. It’s disappointing, but I’m grateful for the team’s support all season.”
But here’s where it gets controversial... With so many drivers struggling to match Shane van Gisbergen’s pace, is it time for NASCAR to reevaluate road course strategies or tire setups? Or is this simply a testament to SVG’s unparalleled skill? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is far from over!
