Chase Elliott has openly expressed admiration for Shane van Gisbergen’s outstanding performance in the NASCAR Cup Seriesroad course events this season. Van Gisbergen, driving for Trackhouse Racing, has secured victories in four of the first five road course races, also earning a sixth-place finish in the other, demonstrating remarkable consistency and skill on these challenging tracks.
Starting from the outside pole position this weekend at the Charlotte Roval, van Gisbergen has the opportunity to claim a fifth road course win of the season, adding to his victories in Mexico City, Chicago’s streetrace, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen. Elliott, who previously ranked among the top road course drivers in the Cupcircuit before van Gisbergen’s emergence, has been watching the New Zealand driver take the lead as the premier road course competitor this year.
Van Gisbergen’s Background Gives Him an Edge on Road Courses
Van Gisbergen’s rapid success on NASCAR’s road courses is partly attributed to his extensive history racing in road circuit formats. Before joining NASCAR, he won three championships in the Australian V8 Super Car Series, a discipline closely aligned with road racing styles. This background has helped him transition smoothly into NASCAR’s road course events.
Reflecting on van Gisbergen’s prior experience, Elliott commented,
Image of: Chase Elliott
“There are some similarities that I think that have helped him make that transition into these cars,”
and added,
“But then you look at his Xfinity success on that side, he’s also very good in those cars, and that’s nothing like he came from. That’s why I say, he’s a great talent and we shouldn’t take that away, either.”
Adjusting to Oval Tracks Remains a Challenge but Shows Progress
While van Gisbergen’s expertise shines on road courses, adapting to NASCAR’s American oval tracks has been a more gradual process. However, signs of improvement are evident, with a 10th place finish at Kansas—his career-best result on a Cup oval—showcasing his growing competence in this racing environment.
Elliott emphasized van Gisbergen’s impact on road course racing by saying,
“He has certainly raised the bar in a lot of ways on the road courses,”
and added,
“Why is that? He’s a great talent, no question. He has a number of years of experience driving cars very similar to this. So, I think you just give credit where it’s due, and I think he’s a good racer. He’s always raced me with a lot of respect, and from my perspective, I just want to get better and try to put myself and our team in the ballpark to go up there and run with it.”
Comparing Performances at the Charlotte Roval
Chase Elliott brings a strong record to the Charlotte Roval, gearing up for the upcoming race with two wins, three top-five finishes, and five top-10 results in seven starts at this unique track. Conversely, van Gisbergen has only competed there once, finishing seventh last year. The upcoming event will test how each driver adapts to the distinctive blend of infield road course and oval banking at Charlotte.
As the season continues, the competition between Elliott and van Gisbergen highlights the evolving landscape of road course racing in NASCAR, with both drivers pushing each other to higher levels of performance. Elliott’s recognition of van Gisbergen’s discipline and talent underscores the intense but respectful rivalry that is shaping this aspect of the sport.
