Kyle Petty, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver and now a broadcast analyst, has expressed strong admiration for Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR impact. Petty highlighted van Gisbergen’s achievements and influence during a recent episode of the Performance Racing Network’s Fast Talk podcast, emphasizing how impressive his performance has been so far in the sport.
Petty Acknowledges Achievements but Stops Short of GOAT Status
While Petty is impressed by van Gisbergen’s success, he is cautious about labeling him the greatest driver ever.
“I think what he’s doing is incredibly impressive,”
Petty stated. However, he added,
“Is he the greatest of all time, and is this the greatest feat we’ve ever seen? No. I think we saw Jeff Gordon win six in a row or something like that.”
Petty also referenced others who had similarly impressive streaks, such as Dan Gurney winning repeatedly at Riverside.
“I think we’ve seen other guys win three or four in a row. I go back to (Dan) Gurney winning at Riverside. Every time you showed up at Riverside, Gurney seemed to win,”
Petty reflected. He noted that while van Gisbergen’s recent run of four consecutive road course victories is remarkable, it does not yet earn him the title of the “Greatest of All Time.”
Van Gisbergen’s Influence Extends Beyond Road Courses
Petty emphasized that van Gisbergen’s influence is not confined to his road course expertise. Instead, he believes van Gisbergen is transforming the sport itself.
“I do think what we’re watching is a guy who’s changing the sport. He’s changing the way the other drivers approach road racing. He’s making them study.”
Petty pointed out that previous dominant drivers did not inspire others to alter their game to the same extent, mentioning Jeff Gordon as an example.
Comparing Van Gisbergen to Marcos Ambrose’s Early Impact
Petty compared van Gisbergen’s accomplishments to those of Marcos Ambrose, noting that Ambrose’s breakthrough seemed more impressive given the mid-level teams he drove for.
“I look at what Marcos did as a little bit more impressive because I think Marcos took a mid-level car, whether it was Richard Petty Motorsports or JTG Racing…and won races with it,”
Petty said.
By contrast, van Gisbergen is competing in a car expected to win races, but Petty praised his skill regardless, stating,
“This is a car that should be winning races. I think (SVG) does a phenomenal job, and that’s why I said it’s impressive.”
Prospects for Van Gisbergen in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs
Van Gisbergen is currently positioned well to contend in his first NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, holding a comfortable points margin heading into the initial round. The upcoming Charlotte Roval race, a track that suits his strengths, could boost his chances for advancing further.
If van Gisbergen’s strong performance continues, he is poised for a potential run into the Round of 8, which would be a significant achievement given his relatively specialized skill set and the competitive nature of the playoff field.
