Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports has acknowledged the overwhelming road course success of Shane Van Gisbergen as they prepare for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at the Charlotte Roval. Larson recognizes Van Gisbergen’s exceptional dominance on these circuits and admits he currently can’t match his pace, attributing some of the gap to his own driving style and recent changes in tire dynamics.
Van Gisbergen’s remarkable performance on NASCAR’s road courses has set new standards in the sport, highlighted by a string of four consecutive Cup Series victories on such tracks. Larson openly praises this achievement, noting that Van Gisbergen’s mastery of braking zones, cornering technique, and acceleration puts him ahead of the competition. This makes it increasingly difficult for other drivers to keep up with his speed and consistency.
Since his debut, Shane Van Gisbergen has amassed a total of nine combined road course wins across NASCAR’s three premier national series by 2025. This remarkable tally ties him with all-time legends Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch for second place in wins on these circuits. What stands out is Van Gisbergen’s efficiency—achieving those victories in just 21 starts, which equates to an extraordinary winning percentage nearing 43%. During a recent media session, Kyle Larson commented:
“I don’t know… I feel like this year, nowhere near him. I think that’s a lot due to the tire change and just my driving style, maybe I’m guessing, but just being overly aggressive in a way of how you load the tire and slip and stuff. I’ve just been trying to get better this year on the road course stuff. We’ve had great results, I feel like my whole career on road courses, so I definitely don’t feel bad.”
— Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
“But it’s just a combination of things, I think. Same as ovals. Your car has to be good. You have to execute well. I don’t know that there’s one particular thing that I’m better at than anybody else, but I think our team just does a good job and hopefully it’s the same case this week,”
— Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Larson’s 2025 NASCAR season has been strong overall, including three victories with a notable win at Bristol. He has regularly placed among the top finishers, accumulating 11 top-five and 18 top-10 results in 31 events while leading for 944 laps. With 3,124 points in the standings, Larson is currently the points leader and remains a leading contender for the championship as the playoffs progress.
Why Short Track Racing Continues to Challenge Kyle Larson
In addition to struggling to keep pace with Van Gisbergen on road courses, Kyle Larson has spoken candidly about difficulties he faces on short tracks. During an appearance on the Stacking Pennies podcast, he revealed that overdriving and premature tire wear often hamper his performance in these races.
Despite recording respectable results on short tracks in the past, including recent top-10 and top-5 finishes at Martinsville, and a 2023 victory at Darlington, Larson described 2025 as a particularly tough year on these circuits. His performances in the playoffs at short tracks such as Martinsville and Bristol were below expectations, finishing outside the top 10.
“Where I struggle on the short tracks is, I for one, I’m, even though I don’t feel like it, I’m probably overdriving…..I feel like the short guys who grew up late model racing and like you guys make up all your time like deselling at a really quick rate without being over the limit of the tire. And that’s where I’m like I really struggle with the short track,”
— Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
“Like, where’s the center of the corner?….Like, that’s the feel I don’t really have on short tracks,”
— Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports driver
Nevertheless, Larson remains competitive in the overall playoff picture, sitting third in the standings with a 54-point advantage as the series heads toward the Charlotte race. His struggles on short tracks are viewed as obstacles to overcome rather than insurmountable barriers.
Van Gisbergen’s Extraordinary NASCAR Road Course Record
Shane Van Gisbergen’s road racing achievements have drawn considerable attention for their rarity and dominance. Having tallied nine wins across NASCAR’s top three national series by 2025, his record stands out not only because of quantity but also because of the quick accumulation of victories within few starts. Matching icons like Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch in total road course wins is a testament to his skill.
His winning percentage of nearly 43% on road courses is unprecedented for drivers at this level, underscoring the level of excellence Van Gisbergen consistently brings. Such precision on braking points, corner entries, and acceleration out of turns, as noted by Larson, marks a driver capable of setting and maintaining a remarkably fast pace against stiff competition.
The Competitive Landscape as the Charlotte Roval Approaches
The upcoming NASCAR race at the Charlotte Roval will test both Larson and Van Gisbergen’s mettle on a notoriously challenging road course that combines high-speed straights with technical corners. As Larson works on adapting his driving style to be less aggressive on tires and improve consistency, Van Gisbergen enters defending his streak of victories in these events.
The race offers crucial points and momentum as the playoffs continue to unfold, with Van Gisbergen’s dominance posing a significant challenge to the field. Larson, leading the points standings with Hendrick Motorsports, remains determined to close the gap, but admits that Van Gisbergen’s current form represents a benchmark difficult to overcome.
This dynamic rivalry highlights the evolving competition in NASCAR and the increasing importance of road course performance in the modern Cup Series. Fans and competitors alike will watch closely as the season progresses and strategies adapt to Van Gisbergen’s road course dominance.
