NASCAR star Shane van Gisbergen has walked away from a multiple car crash at a dirt track speedway meeting at Auckland in his native New Zealand.
Van Gisbergen, who drives the No. 88 Chevrolet ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, was competing in the speedway meeting as part of his offseason schedule when the incident occurred.
Luckily, the New Zealand native escaped the wreckage without suffering any major injuries, with reports suggesting that he was shaken but otherwise unscathed.
Van Gisbergen is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers to come out of New Zealand, having made a name for himself in the competitive world of American stock car racing.
Despite his success in the United States, van Gisbergen remains committed to his roots and regularly competes in events back in his home country during the NASCAR offseason.
The crash is a sobering reminder of the risks involved in motorsport, but van Gisbergen's lucky escape will come as a relief to his fans and teammates.
Trackhouse Racing has yet to comment on the incident, but it is expected that van Gisbergen will make a full recovery and be back behind the wheel in time for the upcoming NASCAR season.
In the meantime, the NASCAR community will be breathing a collective sigh of relief that one of its star drivers has avoided serious injury.
As for van Gisbergen, he will likely take some time to reflect on his lucky escape before turning his attention back to the upcoming season and the challenges that lie ahead.
The incident serves as a reminder that even the most experienced and skilled drivers can be involved in accidents, and that safety should always be the top priority in motorsport.