Shane van Gisbergen, tied with Denny Hamlin as the only drivers with four wins this season, has proven to be a strong force on road courses. However, Hamlin has expressed doubts about Van Gisbergen’s ability to perform well on ovals during the upcoming NASCAR playoffs, raising questions about his postseason prospects.
Hamlin Questions Van Gisbergen’s Ability to Excel on Ovals in Playoffs
While Van Gisbergen has excelled on road courses, his performance on oval tracks has been notably weaker, with an average finish of just 26.9 this season. This statistic is concerning given that the initial three playoff rounds are scheduled on ovals, putting the New Zealand driver at a potential disadvantage.
Hamlin shared his perspective on SVG’s prospects in this critical phase, suggesting that despite improvements, Van Gisbergen remains unlikely to compete at the highest level on oval tracks. Speaking on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin remarked,
You know, in the long term, I mean, he’s certainly getting better at the ovals,
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Yet, he added a cautious note about the challenge ahead, stating,
But still, I think it’s going to be really, really tough to overcome the sport’s elite on ovals. I don’t think he’s gonna be able to do that.
—Denny Hamlin, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen Reflects Honestly on His Playoff Outlook Amid Oval Difficulties
Van Gisbergen himself has acknowledged the complexity of succeeding on ovals compared to his dominance on road courses. He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent finishes as the playoffs approach, showing a practical mindset about the hurdles he faces during the oval-heavy early rounds.
In an interview with Sirius XM NASCAR, Van Gisbergen said,
The playoffs are pretty soon. So I just need to keep the averages up, keep getting good results, and who knows where we’ll end up? But I really think we’re improving every week. Yeah, that first round’s gonna be difficult,
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Despite the challenges, Van Gisbergen expressed cautious optimism based on his accumulated playoff points and the upcoming road course race at the Charlotte Roval in the second round. He explained,
But having the playoff points really helps us,
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
And then the second round has tracks that we should be able to get good results at. So who knows what can happen?
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen’s focus remains on steady improvement as he aims to leverage his strength on road courses while working to close the gap on ovals before the playoffs intensify. His ability to navigate these two very different track types will ultimately shape his postseason trajectory.
