Shane Van Gisbergen has quickly established himself as a formidable competitor in NASCAR with three road course victories to his name, showcasing his road racing expertise. Ahead of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, the Kiwi driver secured pole position and earned a strong second-place finish in the Xfinity Series race, underlining his growing presence in the series while highlighting the challenges he faces on NASCAR’s oval tracks.
Since transitioning from the Supercars Championship, Van Gisbergen has excelled on road and street circuits, winning two of the three road course events he has entered this season. With three more non-oval races still to come, he is in a prime position to increase his win count. Nevertheless, mastering oval tracks is critical to his overall success in NASCAR, as the majority of events are held on ovals.
Respect for Oval Specialists and the Contrast Between Track Types
Van Gisbergen has openly acknowledged the skill of drivers who dominate on ovals and the steep learning curve he faces in adapting to such circuits. He understands why some of the top oval racers find road courses challenging, emphasizing the significant differences between the two disciplines. Speaking after securing pole at Sonoma, he described the distinction as “a night and day difference.”
“Yeah, like a night and day difference,”
Van Gisbergen said at the post-qualifying press conference.
“Like I never really… well, I had seen an oval, I guess, was Nashville the week before I’d raced at Chicago (2023), but yeah, when you watch some of these guys drive, like there’s people on an oval that are unbelievable.”
Despite his rapid progress, Van Gisbergen admits that he is still learning and growing in his oval racing abilities.
“So fast and they come here and they’re 2 seconds off, you know? It’s just like, it’s a completely different sport, almost, the road courses vs ovals. So yeah, I feel like I’m getting better and better, but I still have so much to learn on ovals, and every week I’m developing, learning something new.”
He further explained his evolving understanding of vehicle handling on ovals, stating,
“(I’m) learning what feelings and what I need from the car, and yeah, these races are fun for me.”
Challenges Posed by US Tracks Compared to New Zealand Circuits
Van Gisbergen also noted how the characteristics of NASCAR tracks in the United States differ markedly from those in his native New Zealand. Many remaining unfamiliar features add complexity to his adaptation process, particularly the nature of courses around Sonoma.
“It’s pretty much its own track here (in the US), really,”
he said.
“It’s tough. Like there’s a little bit of run-off like Turn 10 having a wall right outside the track is… that’s huge risk versus reward.”
He described Turn 10 as a challenging corner where a small mistake can lead to a significant penalty, but high speed through the section can yield valuable time gains.
“It’s a pretty cool corner there, knowing if you get it wrong, it’s a big penalty, but the speed you can carry through there and the time you can make up is pretty high. Coming down the S’s is really cool, but yeah, we don’t really have much tracks with elevation in New Zealand.”
Looking Ahead: Van Gisbergen’s Pursuit of Oval Success
While Van Gisbergen has already made a strong impact in NASCAR’s road course events, he recognizes that to become a well-rounded champion, excelling on ovals remains essential. His ongoing learning curve highlights his determination and reflective approach as he balances the contrasting demands of road and oval tracks. His rapid development in racing skills suggests he will continue to improve on ovals, aiming to achieve his first NASCAR Cup Series oval win in the near future.
This progression will be critical, as the NASCAR schedule is predominantly composed of oval races, where Van Gisbergen strives to match the pace and precision of seasoned oval specialists. With each week bringing new lessons and adjustments, his focused commitment could reshape his trajectory in American motorsport.
