Double Trouble for SVG as Iowa Debut Turns Bitterly Awry

It appears the third time did not hold any charm for Shane van Gisbergen at the Xfinity Series’ return to Iowa Speedway. After two consecutive weekends of road course triumphs at Portland and Sonoma, the 3x Supercars champ crashed around Lap 88 of the Hy-Vee Perks 250.

SVG’s #97 Kaulig Racing Chevy came loose off Turn 2 on the repaved asphalt and slammed into Blaine Perkins’ #29 Ford, which slammed into the outside wall.

On the way down, the out-of-control #97 then made contact with Kyle Weatherman’s #91 DGM Racing Camaro, turning SVG into the wall one last time for his first DNF of the 2024 season.

Although Weatherman emerged relatively unharmed from the Stage 2 incident and will get to return to the rest of his race, Perkins’ vehicle suffered damage from the incident, and will also end its day on a DNF.

SVG, on the other hand, crashed out from a P26 track position during the wreck. Ironically, this was the same spot where the Kiwi sensation crashed during practice to bring out his backup car for the race on Saturday. SVG was set to roll off the grid in P2, but the practice wreck relegated his Chevy to the back of the pack.

This has indeed been a bad day for Kaulig Racing, who saw their other road course ringer, AJ Allmendinger, crash out from tire issues around Lap 33 in Stage 1. The other two Kaulig drivers, Daniel Dye and Josh Williams have been running some of the fastest laps at the repaved Iowa.

Regardless, SVG was safely released from the infield care center. The excitement of the HyVee Perks 250 is yet to unfold in Stage 3.

More details to follow.