Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson has shared his perspective on whether Shane van Gisbergen can be considered the NASCAR GOAT, especially given van Gisbergen’s impressive road course performances in the Cup Series. Despite the New Zealand driver’s rapid rise with four road course wins and a runner-up finish in just 35 starts, Johnson remains cautious about declaring SVG the greatest of all time this early in his NASCAR career.
Jimmie Johnson Offers a Measured View on Van Gisbergen’s Status
Johnson, known for his balanced and careful evaluations, emphasized that it is premature to crown van Gisbergen the greatest road course driver with only two seasons in stock car racing. He acknowledged the driver’s extraordinary skill but insisted that more time is needed to make a definitive judgment.
It’s tough to put that label on a guy two seasons into driving stock cars,
Johnson explained as NASCAR announced a street race in San Diego, his hometown.
But the conversation is warranted. I think time will tell. He is in another stratosphere compared to road course racers.
Johnson also reflected on past greats, specifically Jeff Gordon, who is widely regarded as one of the top road course drivers in NASCAR history. Gordon earned nine road course victories during his career of 93 wins, with notable success at Sonoma and Watkins Glen.
After retiring from driving, Gordon moved into a leadership role as the second-in-command to team owner Rick Hendrick and is rumored to be a potential future successor to Hendrick’s management position.
Johnson sees van Gisbergen as a developing talent with the potential to join the elite ranks of road course specialists in NASCAR over time.
Seeing him up against Tony Stewart at his peak, that would have been an interesting time to see peak to peak,
Johnson remarked.
Even Jeff Gordon. We’ve had drivers go on a run on road courses in the past. The greatest of all time, I think that is kind of given to someone over a long duration of time versus just a couple of years. The skills he (SVG) has, if he stays in the sport for five, 10 years, in my mind, the way I view it, I would then start to think greatest of all time.
Fastest guy to be in a car, in a Cup car, that conversation is timely. Greatest of all time, we need more sample sets to choose from.
Kyle Petty Sees Van Gisbergen as the Best Today, Not Yet the GOAT
Former Cup driver and analyst Kyle Petty offered a more guarded opinion, appreciating van Gisbergen’s current dominance in road racing but hesitant to elevate him to the status of the greatest ever. Petty highlighted the history of other drivers who transformed road course racing in NASCAR over decades.
He is the greatest of the moment in road racing,
Petty commented. He referenced past pioneers like Dan Gurney, Tim Richmond, AJ Allmendinger, and Marcos Ambrose who all made significant marks on road course competition before van Gisbergen’s arrival.
Now we have SVG. And he has raised the bar. That’s all he’s done right now. Greatest of all time? We use the word great way too much. I’m going to call him the greatest of the moment. That’s where I’m going to stay with it.
Assessing Shane van Gisbergen’s Place in NASCAR History
The debate over whether Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR GOAT status is deserved revolves around the length of time and body of work in the sport. Van Gisbergen’s immediate success on road courses has made him a standout figure and has earned him recognition as the fastest driver currently in Cup cars. However, figures like Johnson and Petty agree that the label “greatest of all time” requires sustained excellence over many years to move beyond “greatest of the moment.”
Given van Gisbergen’s current trajectory, his future in NASCAR remains very promising, and he may well join the lengthy list of legendary road course specialists if he continues to compete and win over the next several seasons. For now, the conversation around his place among the all-time greats is just beginning, with multiple hallmarks yet to be met in terms of longevity and consistent performance.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Van Gisbergen left Supercars after a standout NASCAR Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing, where he won in Chicago. When explaining his departure from Supercars, Van Gisbergen mentioned that he wasn’t enjoying the racing. “I hated that car,” he said about the Gen3 Camaro.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. Looking back on why he left Supercars, van Gisbergen explained that he didn’t enjoy the racing. He disliked the Gen3 Camaro, calling it a terrible and uninspiring car. According to him, driving it hard would only slow him down, as it needed to be driven at only 40% of its capability.
