Shane van Gisbergen’s first-ever oval stage win at Daytona came with a bitter twist: it wasn’t enough to secure his spot in the playoffs. The No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver capitalized on early chaos when Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Larson crashed ahead of him, clearing the way for a dominant stage finish and 10 points.
Preece’s recovery from a heavy impact kept him in contention, while van Gisbergen’s strong run faded in the final stages. The result leaves the New Zealander on the outside of the playoff picture despite his breakthrough oval performance.
The roller-coaster night underlined the volatility of superspeedway racing and the fine margins separating playoff spots from disappointment.
