Shane van Gisbergen turns in best oval performance of NASCAR career at North WIlkesboro

Shane van Gisbergen is no longer an oval novice. 

The road course ace put together his best NASCAR Cup Series oval performance so far in Sunday's Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro, finishing fifth after leading the second-most laps (49) of any driver on the evening. 

Van Gisbergen nearly won Stage 1, taking the lead after the race's first caution came out on Lap 40. Only a late rally from Ty Gibbs prevented SVG from taking the stage victory. 

Van Gisbergen joked over the radio that he didn't know what to do after taking the race lead. 

Van Gisbergen finished fifth in Stage 2 and ended up finishing the race in fifth. He's now 54 points above the Chase cut line with five races left in the regular season. 

Shane van Gisbergen steadily improving on ovals

"Awesome day, just amazing to get stage points both stages," van Gisbergen told TNT. "Bit pissed I threw it away at the last corner that first stage. Just awesome racing up front all night."

The No. 97 Chevy was far and away the best Trackhouse Racing car and was arguably the best Chevrolet in the field overall. Van Gisbergen was one of only two Chevy drivers, alongside Spire's Daniel Suarez, to finish top 10 on Sunday. 

While he still has plenty of areas to improve in as he continues his second full-time Cup Series season, there's no doubt that the Auckland, New Zealand, native is much improved on ovals, especially short tracks, this season.