Van Gisbergen’s Wild Ride: Stage 2 Contact with Berry Causes Wreck
Sometimes, racing breaks your heart. You can have a fast car, a great team, and all the talent in the world, but it only takes a split second for it all to go wrong. That’s precisely what happened to Shane van Gisbergen during Stage 2 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was a harsh lesson in how unforgiving the “Magic Mile” can be, especially when you’re battling for every inch inside the top five.
You could feel the energy in the air. After a strong run, van Gisbergen was right in the mix, showing the kind of speed that had everyone taking notice. He was holding his own against NASCAR’s best, proving that his transition from the world of Supercars wasn’t just a fluke. He belongs here. But as any seasoned driver will tell you, belonging doesn’t make it easy.
When Tight Racing Goes Wrong for Van Gisbergen
Coming through the turn, the pack was bunched up tight, the kind of close-quarters racing that makes fans hold their breath. Van Gisbergen, piloting his No. 21 machine, found himself in a three-wide squeeze. It was a pressure cooker situation, with cars on his inside and outside, all fighting for the same piece of asphalt. There was simply no room to breathe.
That’s when it happened. A little bit of contact, nothing malicious, just a racing incident, sent the No. 21 sideways. Josh Berry, another driver who had a tough go in the playoffs, was involved. One moment, van Gisbergen was hunting for a top spot; the next, he was spinning out of control. It’s the kind of moment that makes your stomach drop, whether you’re in the car or watching from the stands. All that momentum, all that hard work, gone in an instant.
The Frustration of a Mid-Race Spin
There’s nothing more frustrating for a driver than a spin that’s not entirely your fault. You’re doing everything right, hitting your marks, and then circumstances outside of your control take over. For van Gisbergen, a driver known for his incredible car control, this had to be a tough pill to swallow. He had battled his way into a promising position, only to see it evaporate.
As the car came to a rest, you could almost hear the collective groan from his fans. The replay showed the tight spot he was in—a classic case of too many cars, not enough racetrack. It’s a scenario that plays out time and again in NASCAR, and it’s a harsh reminder that even the slightest misjudgment or smallest contact can have massive consequences.
SVG’s Continued Adaptation to NASCAR Ovals
This incident is another chapter in van Gisbergen’s ongoing journey to master the unique challenges of NASCAR oval racing. Coming from a background where he dominated on road courses, he’s been on a steep learning curve. Every lap, every restart, and every close-quarters battle is a chance to learn something new.
While the spin was undoubtedly a setback, it’s also a valuable experience. Learning how to handle these tight situations, how to anticipate the movements of other cars, and how to recover from adversity are all part of the process. Van Gisbergen has already shown tremendous progress and resilience, and this race will be another data point in his development as a top-tier NASCAR driver. He’s not one to back down from a challenge, and you can bet he’s already analyzing what happened and how he can handle it differently next time.
Looking Past a Tough Day
For drivers like van Gisbergen and Josh Berry, who were already eliminated from the playoffs, these remaining races are about building for the future. They’re racing for pride, for experience, and to prove they have what it takes to compete for wins next season. A day like this is disappointing, but it doesn’t define their potential.
The mark of a true competitor isn’t just how they celebrate their wins, but how they bounce back from the tough days. And make no mistake, this was a tough day for van Gisbergen. But if we’ve learned anything about the Kiwi driver, it’s that he has the heart of a champion. He’ll shake this off, get back in the car, and come back even more determined. That’s what racers do.
