Shane Van Gisbergen celebrates after winning the Nascar Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 race at Sonoma Raceway, California, July 13. Photo: AFP
Kiwi motor racing ace Shane van Gisbergen has won back-to-back victories in the Nascar Cup Series, with a strong win at Sonoma Raceway in California.
The three-time Supercars champion backed up his win in the Chicago Street Race last weekend with the Sonoma triumph.
Van Gisbergen, 36, hasn't won an oval track this year but has won the last three road course races - in Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma.
Those three wins put him equal with Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell for most victories this season.
Van Gisbergen started in pole position and led in his No 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet for 97 of the 110 laps at Sonoma, withstanding interruptions from a flurry of late caution periods before powering away late in the race.
He won by 1.128 seconds ahead of Chase Briscoe.
"That was pretty tough stuff. We had an amazing car," van Gisbergen said.
"I had a really fun weekend here, some great races, and I hope everyone enjoyed that.
"Now we need to keep getting better on the ovals and start proving some people wrong.
"I had an amazing time in Australia and then to come here… the last couple of weeks or years actually has been a dream come true."
The Cup Series heads to Dover in Delaware this weekend.
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