All three of his wins this year have been from pole position — which tied him with Jeff Gordon for a NASCAR record of three consecutive road course victories from the top starting spot.

The New Zealander in the No. 88 car put on a clinic Sunday at the southern Sonoma County track, collecting his third road course victory in the past month.

After dominating from the pole and having done the same at both Mexico City and Chicago, van Gisbergen also becomes the first driver to win three consecutive road course races from the pole since NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon did so between 1998 and 1999 as part of a streak of six straight from 1997 to 2000.