Shane Van Gisbergen continued his remarkable streak by winning the NASCAR Cup qualifying at Sonoma Raceway on Saturday, marking his fourth consecutive pole across both the Cup and Xfinity Series. His performance solidified his front-row start for the upcoming race and highlighted his growing momentum in the 2025 season.
Van Gisbergen described his qualifying effort as intense, reflecting his excitement about the partnership with Red Bull and Trackhouse Racing.
“That was pretty full-on. I’m stoked to have Red Bull on the car. Thank you to Trackhouse and Chevy — amazing car. We weren’t very good in practice. New tires fixed it. So yeah, hopefully we can be good in the race. What a good day,”
he said after his lap.—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Fine-Tuning Needed to Convert Pole into Victory
Despite the strong qualifying pace, Van Gisbergen acknowledged the need for adjustments to secure Sunday’s win, pointing out the necessity for improved rear grip and better balance in the car.
“…a bit more rear grip and a bit better balance … just tune it up a little bit, but obviously not a bad spot to start,”
he explained.—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Front Row and Top Contenders at Sonoma
Joining Van Gisbergen on the front row is Chase Briscoe, who was just 0.250 seconds behind with a strong lap in his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. William Byron, recovering from a challenging month, qualified third, followed by Ross Chastain and A.J. Allmendinger rounding out the top five.
The top ten also included Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman, and Christopher Bell, completing the competitive starting grid for the road course event.
Significance of the Pole for Red Bull and NASCAR History
This pole position holds additional historical importance as it marks the first time a Cup car sponsored primarily by Red Bull has started on pole since Kasey Kahne achieved the feat at Atlanta in 2011. The qualifying session itself was smooth, with no major incidents, though a few minor off-track moments and a spin by Blaney were observed.
Katherine Legge was the only driver not to set a qualifying time, so she will begin Sunday’s race from 37th position.
How the Qualifying Session Unfolded
In the initial group stage, William Byron set the pace with a lap time of 1:15.025. While competitive, it was not enough to hold the pole. Van Gisbergen took control early in the second group, posting a 1:14.833 lap. Although Chase Briscoe pushed close, just 0.011 seconds off, Van Gisbergen’s final attempt of 1:14.594 solidified his pole position unmistakably, outpacing most of his rivals who failed to improve their times in subsequent runs.
Looking Ahead to the Race and Van Gisbergen’s Streak
With this pole, Shane Van Gisbergen continues to demonstrate his strong form across NASCAR’s top series and now aims for his fourth straight victory. The combination of Red Bull’s backing and the efforts of Trackhouse Racing have put him in an advantageous position at Sonoma, giving fans and competitors alike a thrilling weekend to anticipate.