Shane van Gisbergen eliminated from NASCAR – Sports News
Trackhouse Racing rookie Shane van Gisbergen stormed to victory at Sunday’s Viva México 250, the inaugural Cup Series race in Mexico City, however shockingly received’t be half of the upcoming 5‑race In‑Season Challenge bracket.
His dominant 100‑lap efficiency on the two.429‑mile highway course, which earned reward from Chase Elliott, punched his playoff ticket — however fell short of qualifying him for the match seeding.
The new In‑Season Challenge pairs down from 32 to 16 drivers utilizing head‑to‑head finishes. Qualification hinges not simply on profitable however on being among the many prime 32 in factors earlier than the seeding races. Van Gisbergen triumph, which impressed even the likes of Christopher Bell, got here during the second seeding race, following one at Michigan, with the ultimate seeder set for Pocono.
This yr’s seeding system ranks drivers first by their best end throughout the three races, then second‑best, third, and at last season factors tiebreakers. While van Gisbergen’s emphatic win ought to have locked in a prime‑3 seed — he’s amongst solely three drivers to win to this point — he entered the spherical exterior the eligible factors cutoff. Positioned thirty third earlier than Michigan, he by no means certified for the match bracket and was eliminated regardless of his Mexico victory.
Van Gisbergen’s efficiency in Mexico was extraordinary: he began on pole, led 60 laps, and pulled away by 16.5 seconds — the biggest Cup margin in over 16 years. Even a abdomen sickness couldn’t gradual him down as he navigated shifting moist circumstances with suggestions from Max Verstappen to clinch the win.
Yet NASCAR’s choice is by the ebook: solely the highest 32 in standings by the primary seeder make the sphere. Entering exterior that vary locked him out of rivalry from the beginning.
“Four full‑time drivers — including Shane — failed to qualify for the challenge as they were outside the top 32 in points before Michigan,” NASCAR famous.
Van Gisbergen was joined in failing to qualify by Cole Custer, Riley Herbst and Cody Ware. They are nonetheless racing within the upcoming races however ineligble for the bracket.
DON’T MISS
The official bracket kicks off June 28 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with head‑to‑head eliminations resulting in a July 27 Brickyard 400 finale.
This surprising state of affairs has sparked debate amongst followers: some argue the rule undermines on‑observe efficiency, whereas others say it safeguards competitors integrity. Either means, van Gisbergen’s Mexico win nonetheless grants him a spot within the NASCAR playoffs—he simply received’t be chasing the $1 million In‑Season Challenge prize.
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