At Watkins Glen, New York, Shane Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR dominance continued to be a focal point among drivers and fans alike during the weekend’s competition. With his remarkable expertise on road courses, Van Gisbergen quickly became the favorite heading into the race held on the legendary 2.45-mile circuit, setting the tone for the upcoming playoff series starting in three weeks.
Despite starting second on the grid after narrowly losing the pole position to Ryan Blaney by less than a tenth of a second, Van Gisbergen entered the race with an impressive record. He had secured the last three NASCAR Cup Series road course poles and had also won the previous three road course races, highlighting his exceptional skills and positioning him for championship contention.
Competitors Acknowledge Van Gisbergen’s Road Course Mastery
Van Gisbergen’s rivals openly admitted the challenge of matching his pace on road courses. Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing shared how difficult it has been to close the gap to Van Gisbergen, despite Briscoe’s own success with two road course victories in the Xfinity Series.
“I really don’t know how to get closer to SVG,’’ said Joe Gibbs Racing’s Chase Briscoe, who has a pair of road course wins in the Xfinity Series (at Indianapolis and Charlotte). I feel like I can close the gap a little bit but like at Sonoma I felt like I had realistically probably two or three tenths over the entire field but he had eight-tenths to a second over me. I really don’t know what to do different.
—Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
I told SVG it’s really cool how he’s just elevated the whole series to get better at road courses but it is frustrating when you feel like you’re one of the top five to 10 guys but that gap to him is just so much greater than anywhere else in the field. And you don’t really know what to do to get that much closer. He’s just made everybody re-approach how they do road course racing.’’
—Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Briscoe emphasized Van Gisbergen’s superior consistency and speed through every corner, noting how the New Zealander keeps his full potential under wraps until he decides to push.
He’s just better everywhere. Faster in every corner. It’s just crazy how much more he always has in the bank. He does a really good job at not letting you know how much he’s really got and when he needs to go, he’ll just go.’’
—Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing driver
Trackhouse Racing Secures Van Gisbergen’s Future With Contract Extension
The weekend also saw a significant announcement as Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks addressed the media regarding the driver‘s contract extension. The move underscores confidence in Van Gisbergen’s exceptional abilities, not only on road courses but also as he continues to develop on oval tracks.
Marks expressed enthusiasm over Van Gisbergen’s rapid growth and the team‘s long-term plans.
This has been a really, really fun project for the company obviously everything happened really quickly. … obviously we have someone who can win anytime on the road courses and winning is so important here at the Cup Serious obviously, but I think what really excites us at Trackhouse is his speed of development on the ovals,’’ Marks said. His talent and work ethic and showing his progression on the ovals has put our company in the position where we feel excited and comfortable to make a longer term commitment to Shane. We think he’s got an oval win in him in the Cup Series. Things are really starting to come together and gel.
—Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing team owner
Van Gisbergen acknowledged that this first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series has been a period of growth but expressed strong excitement about continuing to race with Trackhouse.
Just right from the start, I’ve enjoyed life here and racing every week and the challenge,’’ said Van Gisbergen with a smile. It was probably time for me to have a new challenge in my career. I’ve raced Supercars for 15 years or something, so yeah, the timing was just perfect and I don’t regret any minute. It’s been the most fun I’ve had in racing for a long time. It’s been really cool.
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR Cup Series driver
Van Gisbergen’s Rapid Rise Highlights International Success and Playoff Prospects
The veteran New Zealander’s NASCAR journey has been marked by record-setting achievements. He is now one victory shy of tying fellow Australian Marcos Ambrose’s record of five Xfinity Series wins, the most by any foreign-born driver. Van Gisbergen also boasts four career Cup Series victories, including a historic triumph in his NASCAR debut during the Chicago Street Race three years ago.
His prowess makes him a favorite not only for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at The Glen but also for the Xfinity Series Mission 200 event at the same track. With the playoffs fast approaching, Van Gisbergen’s consistent excellence on road courses and continued improvement on ovals position him as a potential championship contender in the 10-race season finale series.
The Growing Impact of Van Gisbergen’s Road Course Excellence
Van Gisbergen’s dominance is reshaping how competitors and teams approach road course racing within the NASCAR circuit. Drivers like Chase Briscoe acknowledge that Van Gisbergen’s level of speed and precision has pushed the entire field to elevate their skills and tactics, altering the competitive landscape.
This influence extends beyond individual races, as Trackhouse Racing’s investment in Van Gisbergen reflects a strategic anticipation of his increasing role in shaping NASCAR’s road and oval racing dynamics. With playoffs imminent, his continued success could inspire more international drivers and alter the traditional profile of NASCAR champions, increasing the sport’s global appeal.
