Shane van Gisbergen Misses NASCAR Truck Series Win at Watkins Glen

Shane van Gisbergen secured a third-place finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Watkins Glen on May 9, 2026. Driving the #4 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado, van Gisbergen reached the podium despite facing a series of significant mechanical failures throughout the event.

The 74-lap race, which extended into overtime, was marked by a variety of technical setbacks for the #4 driver. Van Gisbergen dealt with a fuel pressure issue and a loose rear-view mirror, while also experiencing a failure of his helmet fan.

Mid-race, van Gisbergen flagged an issue with engine power, which hindered his ability to challenge for the lead and left him positioned outside the top 20 for a portion of the contest.

The driver’s trajectory changed following an unexpected pit stop for new tires. This strategic move, combined with surviving several caution periods and avoiding on-track accidents, allowed van Gisbergen to move through the field and secure a top-three finish.

Discussing the mechanical struggles and the efforts of his crew, van Gisbergen stated:

We had a shocker with mechanicals, but the guys did great. Niece did a good job fixing it up. Thanks to the guys here, they prepared a good truck.

Shane van Gisbergen

While pleased with the result, van Gisbergen admitted that the truck weren’t quite fast enough to win the race. He noted that the team managed to gain several positions during the final restarts.

The victory at Watkins Glen went to Kaden Honeycutt, driving the #11 truck for Tricon Garage. Honeycutt claimed the win by pipping Connor Zilisch on the restart of the race’s sole overtime finish.

Honeycutt expressed disbelief at his road course victory and credited Toyota and his crew for their support after he took over the truck from Corey Heim.

Van Gisbergen indicated that the Truck Series appearance served as a beneficial learning experience for his upcoming races. He specifically cited the importance of understanding the restarts and the tight conditions of Turn 1.

He explained that there’s a lot of carnage down there in Turn 1 and that a driver have to prop it up to navigate the section successfully.

The lessons learned on May 9, 2026, are expected to be applied in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on May 10, 2026, and the NASCAR Cup Series race on May 11, 2026.