On qualifying day at Richmond Raceway, Denny Hamlin’s exceptional skill caught the attention of not only fans but also one of NASCAR’s emerging talents, Shane van Gisbergen. Hamlin’s Richmond mastery, demonstrated through his distinctive driving techniques, left van Gisbergen genuinely amazed as he analyzed Hamlin’s advanced telemetry data. This encounter shone a spotlight on Hamlin’s continued dominance on oval tracks and fueled discussions about adapting unique driving styles in NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
With nearly two decades of racing experience, Hamlin has secured 58 Cup Series wins, showcasing his versatility across various track types, from short tracks to superspeedways. Despite his prowess, Hamlin has openly acknowledged that road courses have not been his strongest venues. Nonetheless, his expertise on oval circuits, especially at Richmond, where precision and speed reign supreme, remains unmatched.
Shane van Gisbergen Unpacks the Unconventional Driving Style of Hamlin
Shane van Gisbergen, a standout driver known primarily for his road course victories, approached Hamlin’s telemetry data with curiosity and respect. The Trackhouse Racing driver highlighted the unusual throttle techniques Hamlin employed on ovals, which diverged sharply from his own style rooted in Supercars and road racing.
During a pre-raceinterview, with Hamlin present, van Gisbergen jokingly acknowledged the lessons he gleaned:
Image of: Denny Hamlin
“Thanks for the tips this week, mate.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen described Hamlin’s throttle input graph as resembling a heartbeat, filled with rapid throttle stabs and frequent gear changes. Unlike the smooth, rhythmic inputs van Gisbergen is accustomed to, Hamlin’s aggressive and frenetic approach proved both fascinating and bewildering to the New Zealand driver.
“It’s just amazing… his style is very unique,”
he remarked, emphasizing how unlike anything he’d encountered before the style appeared.
Although SVG recognized the potential benefits of these techniques on oval racing, he remained cautious about adopting them immediately:
“I’ll probably won’t try it today in practice,”
he said, explaining that experimentation would come only if race conditions allowed him the necessary freedom to adjust his style mid-event.
Van Gisbergen’s Quest to Adapt Hamlin’s Oval Techniques
Despite quick success on road courses such as Chicago, Sonoma, Mexico City, and Watkins Glen, van Gisbergen has struggled on NASCAR’s traditional oval circuits, frequently finishing in the mid-20s without cracking the top 10. This gap underlines the distinct challenges oval racing presents, despite van Gisbergen’s status as NASCAR’s reigning road-course king.
By studying Hamlin’s SMT (Seat-Mounted Telemetry) data—a system that offers detailed insight into driver inputs and vehicle performance—van Gisbergen hopes to learn how sudden throttle inputs and rapid gear shifts can optimize car balance and exit speed on ovals.
Hamlin’s approach involves short bursts of throttle application and frequent changes in gear, techniques that “reset” the car’s dynamics to maximize speed exiting corners. SVG admitted that his current approach, shaped by road-racing precision, had never required or embraced such aggressive inputs. This schooling in Hamlin’s style symbolizes van Gisbergen’s broader determination to evolve as an oval driver.
Learning From Veterans: Van Gisbergen’s Oval Education
Van Gisbergen described his oval driving knowledge as a “clean sheet of paper,” viewing the adaptation process as an opportunity rather than a setback. He acknowledged that each experienced Cupdriver introduces subtle nuances into how they navigate ovals, with Hamlin’s throttle-stabbing style serving as one prominent example.
Beyond Hamlin, van Gisbergen is analyzing other veterans, notably <a href="https://www.big14news.com/tag/ross-chastain/”>Ross Chastain, whose driving style he finds comparable to his own car setup.
“Ross’ car is probably most similar to how mine’s going to be, so I’ve been trying to just see what they were doing with gears. You can change gear a lot here, and it changes the car balance quite a lot. I just try and study those two guys, but, you know, at different tracks, it might be different people whoever stands out.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen sees short tracks, in particular, as a fertile ground for developing his oval style. Even though his results have yet to reflect his confidence, he believes his speed and lap times in certain race segments are competitive. The challenge lies in piecing these elements together consistently during a race.
“The short tracks… I feel sort of most competitive and feel most comfortable, I guess, to push, but the results haven’t shown that,”
he said, adding:
I feel like my lap times and speed in sections of the race are good; I just got to put it all together.
Given the demands of oval racing, where managing gears, braking points, and tire wear falls heavily on the driver’s technique, van Gisbergen views this process as an opportunity to forge his own distinct racing identity—much as Hamlin and Chastain have done in their careers.
Significance of Hamlin’s Influence on NASCAR’s Evolving Driving Styles
Denny Hamlin’s Richmond mastery not only reinforces his stature as one of NASCAR’s premier oval racers but also serves as a catalyst for innovation among rising drivers like Shane van Gisbergen. As the sport continues to blend road-course skills with oval racing demands, the exchange of techniques across different racing disciplines could accelerate driver development and heighten competition.
Van Gisbergen’s measured approach—absorbing techniques from rivals without forcing immediate change—reflects a resilient mindset focused on long-term growth. As NASCAR’s season shifts between road circuits and traditional ovals, the willingness of drivers to learn from each other will be critical in shaping future contenders.
The unfolding story of van Gisbergen’s adaptation highlights how Hamlin’s unique driving style at Richmond and beyond could help redefine strategies for mastering oval racing. This fusion of styles may inspire a new generation of drivers to push the boundaries of speed and control on NASCAR’s iconic tracks.
