As the NASCAR Cup Series prepares for the upcoming race at Watkins Glen, William Byron is expressing unease about Shane Van Gisbergen’s road course supremacy. Despite Byron’s own success at Watkins Glen, including a prior win and multiple top-ten finishes, he remains wary of the New Zealand driver’s recent performances and potential to dominate again.
Shane Van Gisbergen, known as a formidable road racer, shook up expectations this season after a slow start by securing three consecutive road course victories beginning with the event in Mexico City. Though his results dipped in oval races like Dover and Iowa, where he finished outside the top 30, his prowess on road courses has kept him as a serious threat. Byron, fresh off a win in Iowa that ended a long drought, conceded respect for Van Gisbergen’s skill with this statement:
“I think, obviously, SVG’s gonna be really fast. So, it’s kind of keeping up with him, but also setting the standard for ourselves and what we need to continue to improve at Watkins Glen.”
—William Byron, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Byron acknowledged that Watkins Glen is a key track in the schedule, noting challenges from previous years due to tire issues but optimistic about improvements this season. He added,
“Watkins Glen is a really important track…Last year was a struggle with this new tire. It was tough on us. We didn’t have a great weekend. But I think this year can be a lot better. We’ve learned a lot with the tires. So, just gotta go there and prepare well throughout the week. And definitely still a lot more prep to do for Watkins Glen.”
—William Byron, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Shane Van Gisbergen’s Quest for Redemption at Watkins Glen
Van Gisbergen enters Watkins Glen with unfinished business after narrowly missing out on victory last year. In the 2024 edition of the race, he qualified third and made aggressive moves, including a daring three-wide pass attempt, but ultimately finished second behind Chris Buescher. The final pass came through the technical ‘Bus Stop’ chicane, where Buescher edged Van Gisbergen for the lead, leaving the Kiwi with a runner-up finish to digest.
More recently, Van Gisbergen faced difficulties at the Iowa race where his No. 88 Chevrolet spun twice, including one incident after being tapped by Kyle Busch. Despite the setbacks, SVG highlighted the positives from that event, noting improvements in his performance during restarts. He said,
“I felt like on most restarts, that’s where we were making our gains. We had good speed and were getting right in the mix. That’s been a weakness of mine, and I feel like we’re getting better and better every week. We just need to get building on that. It’s not a great result, but there’s a lot of positives that have come out of today.”
—Shane Van Gisbergen, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
This resilience and hunger for victory suggest Van Gisbergen is preparing for a fierce comeback at Watkins Glen, a track where his road racing skills are renowned.
Byron and Van Gisbergen Set the Stage for an Intense Watkins Glen Duel
William Byron’s recent win at Iowa, achieved through a clever fuel-mileage strategy amid numerous caution flags, marked a significant turning point for him this season. Still, his awareness of Van Gisbergen’s threat indicates a tense contest ahead at Watkins Glen. The New Zealand driver’s streak of road course dominance continues to place pressure on Byron and other competitors.
As Byron aims to build on his previous success at Watkins Glen, where he led most of the laps during his 2023 victory, the challenge of countering Van Gisbergen’s pace looms large. Both drivers bring a mix of anticipation and anxiety into the weekend’s battle, knowing that road course expertise could decide the outcome.
The showdown at Watkins Glen not only promises high-speed drama but also serves as a pivotal test in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Van Gisbergen’s road course supremacy and Byron’s determination to defend his position make this one of the most anticipated races on the calendar.
