Shane Van Gisbergen, the former Supercars Champion from Auckland, is navigating a difficult rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025. Known for his talent on road courses, Van Gisbergen has struggled to find consistent success on oval tracks so far. To improve his <a href="https://www.big14news.com/nascar/”>NASCAR performance on these circuits, he has looked closely at the strategies used by his teammate Ross Chastain, who has excelled at maximizing gains during restarts and gaining positions in races.
Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR improvement effort comes late into the season as he aims to make a mark before the playoffs begin. While his skill at street circuits has secured him some wins, his lack of oval track experience is evident. He has openly acknowledged how stepping out of his comfort zone has posed serious hurdles.
Early Season Difficulties Shape Van Gisbergen’s Learning Curve
The start of Van Gisbergen’s rookie Cup Series campaign was marked by multiple setbacks, both mechanical and racing incidents, that kept him far from the front pack. His No. 88 team struggled for speed early in the season and faced trouble in nearly every outing. At the famed Daytona 500, he sustained damage in a stage two crash, finishing 33rd and laps behind the leaders. Further difficulties followed, including a last-lap crash at EchoPark Speedway that dropped him to 23rd place, and back-to-back Did Not Finish (DNF) results at Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Adding to his challenges, a pit stop error at Martinsville Speedway caused him to lose a right rear wheel, resulting in a 34th place finish and placing him multiple laps down.
Despite the rough start, Van Gisbergen has observed incremental progress with his team’s performance and his own racing strategy. During a recent appearance on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, he shared,
“It’s only a tenth or two to the back of the top-10 in qualifying. Feels like we’re a lot closer, especially to my teammates as well. For some weeks, you know, we miss it with the car and race with my teammates in the mid-20s, so I kind of have to gauge from that. But Ross has this amazing ability, particularly late in the race to get an amazing result out of a car that’s 20th. He’ll drag it well inside the top 10. I definitely need to get better at my restarts and car placement like him. Certainly feels like I’m getting a lot better.”
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
Leveraging Ross Chastain’s Strengths to Elevate Oval Track Results
Ross Chastain’s performance in the 2025 Cup Series exemplifies the kind of racing acumen Van Gisbergen seeks to emulate. As one of the most effective restarters this season, Chastain has gained 117 positions over 17 races with an impressive 82.9% retention rate after restarts. His ability to navigate traffic and efficiently regain spots has significantly boosted his competitiveness on oval tracks.
Chastain’s skill was critical to his historic victory at the Coca-Cola 600 held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Starting from last place, he methodically advanced past numerous competitors to finish ahead of key front-runners, including William Byron, who dominated the race by winning all three stages and leading most laps.
Van Gisbergen recognizes that mastering restarts and strategic car positioning will be crucial to breaking through on oval tracks, where his results have so far been inconsistent. With only seven races left before the playoffs, his ability to incorporate lessons from Chastain’s racing tact could determine his chances of finishing the season on a strong note.
Reflecting on Struggles and Successes During the NASCAR Campaign
Van Gisbergen’s rookie season illustrates a contrast between his prowess on road courses and his struggles on traditional ovals. While he endured no top-10 finishes on ovals in the season’s first half, his triumphs at distinctive events such as Mexico City and the Chicago Street Course have locked him into playoff contention. This demonstrates his clear capability to win when the race conditions suit his style.
Nonetheless, he has faced some difficult moments that highlight the learning curve involved. His worst finish came at Bristol Motor Speedway in the 2025 Food City 500, where he placed 38th. Van Gisbergen described the challenge of adapting to Bristol’s unique characteristics, stating,
“There’s just nowhere to go. Bristol is so far removed from anything I’ve ever done. You look at that corner, and when you’re driving down the straight, you feel you’re driving into a brick wall. It’s a vertical wall ahead of you, and you’re kind of dropped in, and you tell yourself, next to no brakes, and the car will just stick. It’s mindblowing thinking you can corner that fast. And that concrete. You’ve never driven on concrete before. You do have grip, but when it rubbers up, you have no grip. You’ve gotta go searching somewhere, and the track just, it’s like a dirt track, how much it moves.”
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
This insight underlines the complexity of adjusting to different types of oval tracks, especially for a driver whose background is primarily in road racing.
What Lies Ahead for Van Gisbergen in NASCAR’s Playoff Push
As the 2025 season heads toward its critical playoff phase, Shane Van Gisbergen has an opportunity to solidify his position among the Cup Series contenders. His road course victories have validated his talent and earned him a playoff berth, but sustained success on ovals remains vital for a legitimate championship challenge. Van Gisbergen’s continuing improvement in restarts and racecraft, inspired by teammate Ross Chastain’s approach, will be essential to raising his competitiveness.
Upcoming events, such as the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, serve as benchmarks for Van Gisbergen to apply his gained experience and demonstrate growth on tracks that once posed daunting challenges.
With the mentorship of experienced drivers like Chastain and the determination to adapt his driving on oval circuits, Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR improvement journey is poised for progress. His ability to translate lessons into results could reshape his trajectory in the Cup Series, making him a driver to watch as the season intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes he made the \x26quot;right choice\x26quot; by leaving Supercars to try his hand at NASCAR racing. This year, he is participating in his first full season in the second-tier NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing. Before this, he spent 15 years racing in the Supercars series.
Q. How much did Shane van Gisbergen win in NASCAR?
A. Stewart-Haas Racing is ending after 16 years mainly due to difficulties in getting sponsors for a four-car team. Stewart’s decision comes amid tensions between NASCAR and its teams about the sport’s future.
