Joey Logano is gearing up for the Chicago NASCAR race, aiming to overcome Shane van Gisbergen’s extraordinary road course prowess in what promises to be an intense battle on the tight streets of the Windy City. As the 2025 Cup Series heads to Chicago, Logano’s determination to conquer this challenging circuit is fueled by Van Gisbergen’s remarkable record on street courses.
Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand road racing expert, stunned the NASCAR community with a victory on his Chicago debut in 2023 and has since dominated road courses in 2024 and 2025, including a commanding win at the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 in Mexico City. His precision and speed on winding tracks have set a tough standard for Cup Series competitors, making him the man to beat whenever the series visits street circuits.
Overcoming Boundaries: Logano’s Willingness to Push Past Comfort Zones
Joey Logano, a three-time Supercars champion and a seasoned NASCAR driver, entered the 2025 season with the clear objectives of winning on road courses and improving his performance on ovals. Although his oval results have been a work in progress, his focus on mastering road courses has intensified, especially against Van Gisbergen’s road racing dominance.
Speaking ahead of the Chicago race, Logano addressed the challenge of balancing caution with aggressiveness on difficult street courses. His insight revealed a mindset centered on pushing limits.
“Yeah, it’s easy to say that until Shane’s [van Gisbergen] out there a second faster than you, and you got to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations, right? Like it’s easy to say that. But you got to figure out how to go fast. And last I checked with this car, there’s no going fast in your comfort zone. You just got to be pushing outside of where you feel like you’re comfortable,”
he explained.
The Chicago street circuit has proven especially tough in recent years with weather playing a factor, adding layers of difficulty that demand adaptability and mental toughness—qualities Van Gisbergen seems to wield effortlessly. Logano recognized this as he added,
“And this track’s no exception to it. If anything, it’s just a little bit more out of your comfort zone. Probably because we haven’t done it much, right? Like we’re not road racers, to speak of, right? There’s only one out there that really is. And so, all of us are, you know, in a way playing catch-up.”
Van Gisbergen’s Humble Perspective Amidst Road Racing Supremacy
Despite his road course dominance, Shane van Gisbergen remains humble about his skills compared to his NASCAR competitors. Acknowledging the vast experience of Cup Series drivers on oval tracks, he reflected,
“Yeah, I can just flip what he says and that’s what I feel on ovals, you know… that’s the reason why I’m doing like Summer Shootout and stuff, just trying to get experience on ovals. These guys have been doing left-handers since they were 10 years old, you know.”
Van Gisbergen’s initial struggles on NASCAR ovals in 2025 were evident, with finishes near the back in his first six oval races. However, a growth mindset helped him start to improve, highlighted by a 14th place at the Coca-Cola 600 and 18th at Michigan. To build on this progress, he took part in the Cookout Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway, competing successfully in tight quarter-mile oval races against established drivers like Bubba Wallace and Scott McLaughlin. He described the experience as “epic,” pointing out that these races balance fun with valuable driver development.
Joey Logano’s Quest for Legacy Beyond Past Successes
Joey Logano stands as one of NASCAR’s most accomplished drivers with 37 Cup Series wins, three championships, and a Daytona 500 victory. At 35 years old, he has met many expectations set during his youth but continues to pursue new goals and challenges. Logano’s focus remains on adding to his legacy, eyeing milestones like surpassing 60 career wins and contending for a fourth Cup Series title.
Discussing his motivation going into Chicago, Logano confidently stated,
“I mean, I honestly feel like I have to prove myself every day. I always say, man, ‘What you did yesterday is yesterday?’ Right? Tell me what you’re gonna do tomorrow; that’s the important stuff. You know, the history books and people’s memories are short, right? And people say, I say too, ‘You’re only as good as your last race,’ and it really feels that way a lot of times. Yeah, it’s been—I’ve had a great career, you’re right. A lot of great accomplishments, a lot of cool moments. Have I hit all the markers that I set out to hit? No, no, I haven’t. So, I still got plenty to go out there and want to achieve for sure.”
Despite his impressive accomplishments and inclusion in NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list, Logano remains driven by unfinished business. While he has yet to secure victories at some of NASCAR’s most iconic events like the Brickyard 400 or Southern 500, his recent performances show that he is far from finished. Logano has one win so far in the 2025 season, with an average finish reflecting the tough competition but signaling his intent to stay in title contention.
The Significance of the Chicago Race in the NASCAR 2025 Season
The upcoming race in Chicago carries significant weight as a barometer for both Shane van Gisbergen’s continued road course dominance and Joey Logano’s resilience in overcoming that edge. Van Gisbergen has become the driver to beat on street circuits, but his struggles on ovals demonstrate the challenges ahead of him in developing a more well-rounded NASCAR skill set.
For Logano, the Chicago race represents a test of adaptability, courage, and the boldness required to chase another championship in a highly competitive field. The willingness to step beyond comfort zones and confront a dominant rival adds intensity to the race, underscoring why it is among the season’s most anticipated events.
As NASCAR continues to evolve with drivers like Van Gisbergen expanding road course expertise and veterans like Logano seeking to cement their legacies, the Chicago street race stands as a critical moment that could influence the championship trajectory and highlight the dynamics reshaping the sport in 2025.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Joey Logano have cerebral palsy?
A. Joey experienced a difficult birth, causing a brain bleed and resulting in a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. This condition requires him to undergo extensive physical therapy.
Q. What medical condition does Joey Logano have?
A. After Joey Logano, twice a Nascar Cup Series Champion, found out he had alopecia, he wanted to know more about the condition and how to boost his confidence. He contacted HairClub, where specialists explained alopecia and discussed his available options.
Q. What sickness did Joey Logano have?
A. The cause was a stomach virus. Despite this, Logano pushed through until the race ended. “I had the Norovirus and thought I was fine. But right before the race, I realized I wasn’t,” Logano said to the media, as reported by Steven Taranto of CBS Sports.
