You know that feeling, how everything is going well, and then suddenly something happens and it is all ruined? Shane van Gisbergen entered the Pocono Mountains 225, with high hopes to at least finish in the top 10, after a P26 start. 

This could have been a day to prove his might on the ovals. Alas, it just didn’t work out. Despite coming up from way behind, two unfortunate incidents left him struggling with the 31st position. The number #97 shared what unfolded on the track.

It wasn’t Shane Van Gisbergen’s day

NASCAR Xfinity Series defending champion Cole Custer got his first Xfinity win of the 2024 season. On his tail, Justin Allgaier took second place and Hendrick Motorsport’s William Byron took 3rd.

With already 3 wins under his belt, Shane van Gisbergen wasn’t having the race he’d expected. Gisbergen, for a large part of the race, had a good run. Until the last 13 laps, he had progressed to 10th place starting from 26th. But a nudge from JR Motorsports’ Sam Mayer left him spinning at the tricky triangle. 

In a post-match interview, Gisbergen shed light on the incident, “Yeah it’s gutting man. We’re getting better and better, always on these ovals third stage I seem to be getting better and yeah we made a bit of a good call there on strategy and yeah we were on pretty good ties but we had speed has we’ll and then yeah just got run over by Sam.”

At the final restart, Kaulig Racing’s #97 started in 27th position. Shortly after bettering his position to 20th a second spin on lap 88 ended his race at 31st position. Surely, the turn of events got the Kiwi driver disappointed as he talked about that second spin, “So that su**ed, but yeah had a good weather tech Camaro here. Just Shame we don’t have a top 10.” 

Speaking to NASCAR, Mayer apologized and took responsibility for bumping into the #97 car, “Huge apologies out to the 97 guys. I just messed up. I drove in a little too hard. Brake pedal started fading a little bit and I didn’t account for that, so that’s on me there.”

Gisberngen is one of NASCAR’s best when it comes to street races or for that matter any road course. However, when it comes to ovals he is often seen struggling. This time, Sam Mayer was there to make things worse. However, even Mayer didn’t know- but he didn’t stop there. 

Sam Mayer involved in another upset

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After Nudging Gisbergen, Sam Mayer finished the race in the 10th position. Post the race a heated Chandler Smith rushed to his car and there was an exchange of beeped words. It was surprising for Mayer as well as the spectators. During the race, there was no contact between the two. But apparently, Smith did not appreciate Mayer’s hard racing. A furious smith told NASCAR, “I mean he sat on my door in the ‘Tunnel Turn’ three times — about wrecked all three times. And then he wrecked the 97(Shane van Gisbergen). He ain’t gonna mess with me anymore; I can promise you that. And if he does, I guarantee he won’t do it again. Hopefully he got the message,”

The Joe Gibbs racer had a comfortable start from the fifth position but ended his run in the 15th position, losing crucial points. He probably somewhat blames Mayer, as was suggested by his comments. Mayer too did not back down, in his reply to Smith he said, “He can’t handle being raced hard, I guess; I don’t know. I mean, that was the last person I expected to be upset with me today………..But Chandler, I don’t know, man. Not my problem”.

Crucial races are underway as playoffs are approaching. More heated battles and spin-arounds are just around the corner. Let’s see what happens next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.