Chicago Takeaways: SVG Wins, Controversial Finish, Tempers & Possible NASCAR Return

CHICAGO, Ill. — Shane van Gisbergen made a little more history again on Sunday in the city where he made his biggest history.

Shane van Gisbergen and crew celebrate after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 

The New Zealand driver, who won the inaugural Chicago street race in his Cup debut in 2023, earned his second win in three years at the track, as he had a comfortable lead on Ty Gibbs when the caution came out on the final lap on Sunday afternoon.

SVG, as he is known, became only the second driver to sweep an Xfinity and Cup weekend by winning both races from the pole. The other was Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016.

And with his third win, he is the most-winning foreign-born driver in NASCAR Cup Series history.

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165 at Chicago Street Course

Not bad for a driver who didn’t expect to race in NASCAR, except for that one-off for Trackhouse Racing two years ago.

"This joint, it changed my life," said three-time Australian Supercars champion van Gisbergen, who says he isn’t a fan of cities as he likes his space and grass. "I didn't have any plans to do more NASCAR races when I first came over here, and I never thought I'd be in NASCAR full time."

Rain barely fell on the cars minutes after the checkered flag. So here are the takeaways from a mostly dry Chicago race:

Controversial Caution

As van Gisbergen was completing his next-to-last lap, Cody Ware blew a brake rotor and slammed into the Turn 6 tire barrier. It was a hard hit, but NASCAR didn’t throw the caution until van Gisbergen had passed the start-finish line and taken the white flag.

Because van Gisbergen had taken the white flag, the final lap was completed