In the 2025 NASCAR season, Shane van Gisbergen has established himself as the driver to watch on road and street courses, securing victories at Chicago, Mexico City, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen. His string of wins has created a noticeable lead over his competitors, highlighting his exceptional abilities in this format.
Michael McDowell, a seasoned NASCAR road racer, offered insight into van Gisbergen’s success, attributing it to refined driving techniques rather than supernatural talent.
“He’s not Superman; just a matter of time,”
“What he’s doing right now is incredible. But he’s not Superman. He’s doing everything just a little bit better because of his background. He brakes a little later and different going into a turn. His line through turns is a little different. He accelerates a little earlier exiting turns. It’s a matter of feet. But it’s turn after turn, lap after lap.” —Michael McDowell, NASCAR road racer
McDowell emphasized that van Gisbergen’s background in Australia’s Supercars series, which exclusively races on road courses, has given him a critical edge. This experience directly translates to NASCAR‘s latest cars, which have improved handling on road layouts compared to previous models.
As van Gisbergen’s dominance continues, McDowell expects other drivers to study and eventually emulate his approach.
“He’s pushing all of us to be better. He’s pushing everyone to make some adjustments. And it will happen. It’s just a matter of time.” —Michael McDowell, NASCAR road racer
The upcoming challenge will come in June 2026 when NASCAR hosts its first Cup Series street race at Naval Base Coronado. Given van Gisbergen’s performance this season, he is widely considered the favorite for this event.
Challenges in the Playoffs Following Darlington Race
Despite a strong regular season, Shane van Gisbergen‘s playoff journey encountered difficulties at Darlington Raceway. After entering the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with momentum from his road-course dominance, he fell back to a 32nd place finish in the opening race, placing his rookie season championship hopes in uncertainty.
Following the race, van Gisbergen acknowledged struggles with the car’s setup, an unusual expression of frustration for a driver typically composed under pressure. NASCAR journalist Matt Weaver reported his comments on X:
“Whatever was different from yesterday’s car was horrible. So yeah, they tried everything they could, but we couldn’t make it better. And I couldn’t find a way to make speed,” —Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen described the vehicle as unresponsive during the race, expressing a sense of helplessness as he steadily lost pace. Earlier in the season, he had shown the ability to perform well at Darlington, which intensified the disappointment of this setback.
Looking ahead, van Gisbergen aims to rebound at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois on September 7, 2025, as he continues his quest for a strong playoff finish.
