Following his first career victory at the Circuit of the Americas, Shane van Gisbergen publicly praised 17-year-old Brent Crews, the youngest competitor in the field, for his standout performance during Saturday’s race. Crews made history by becoming the youngest driver to lead a lap in the O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series, overtaking van Gisbergen and fellow teenager Connor Zilisch during the lap 24 restart of stage two.
Van Gisbergen Reflects on Crews’ Driving Skills
Van Gisbergen expressed amazement at Crews’ aggressive driving, noting his stamina and control under pressure.
“That was awesome to watch. He’s in the 19 car, yes?”
van Gisbergen asked.
“At the start, he was driving like crazy. I couldn’t drive like that; I’d be worn out in two laps. But yeah, I saw him doing burnouts, and I knew it would be a matter of time, but he was just crazy on the limit, and it was really cool to watch and really close to the bundles and off the track. So yeah, he looks like he’s an amazing talent, and I’m sure he’d be really good in not much time. So yeah, it’s fun to race him, but I kind of knew it was going to not last long.”
Race Outcome and Crews’ Finishing Position
After leading for five laps, Brent Crews maintained a strong pace to secure a finish just outside the top five. His ability to hold his position despite intense competition highlighted his potential as a rising star. Crews’ pace and determination demonstrated why he is considered among the most promising young drivers in the NASCAR O’Reilly’s Auto Parts Series.
Van Gisbergen’s Experience With Teenage Drivers in NASCAR
Now in his second complete season in the NASCAR Cup Series, van Gisbergen is no stranger to competing alongside talented teenagers like 19-year-old Connor Zilisch. Zilisch, who battled van Gisbergen in the early part of the race but later faced mechanical setbacks due to a broken brake rotor, remains a key competitor on road courses this season. Both drivers are expected to be major contenders in all four road-course events on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar.
How the Youngest Leader’s Lap Came to Be
Before the brake rotor issue slowed Zilisch, both he and van Gisbergen were caught off-guard when Crews made a bold move into turn one to capture the lead. This moment marked the first time the newly lowered age limit allowed a 17-year-old to lead a NASCAR O’Reilly Series race. Prior to this rule change at the end of last season, the record was held by Zilisch, who led and won his series debut shortly after turning 18.
Friendly Rivalry and Hand Signals on the Track
During the race, van Gisbergen also commented on the playful exchange of hand signals between drivers as they communicated on the track. Referring to a ‘dueces’ gesture he gave to competitors when overtaking for the lead, van Gisbergen mentioned that Zilisch used similar signs to indicate his car number during their on-track battle.
“I think that’s still amazing that’s kind of like every car I’ve drove, you have windows, right? So you can’t signal to other drivers. So I still find that fun, and Connor and I were having fun. He was telling me which number his car was a couple of times, which is nice. Yeah, it was cool. It was nice of those guys to let me through on the inside, so I was just waving,”
van Gisbergen explained.
Implications for NASCAR’s Young Talent and Road Course Races
This race served as a clear indicator of the fresh talent emerging in NASCAR, with Brent Crews making an immediate impact as the youngest leader following the updated age regulations. Both Crews and Zilisch represent a new wave of teenage drivers ready to challenge veterans like van Gisbergen in upcoming events. Their performances signal an exciting and competitive future for the NASCAR Cup Series, particularly in the road course races where their skills shine brightest.
What a restart for the 17-year-old @Brentcrews who is making his @NASCAROReillyAP debut! pic.twitter.com/DDsgTx42JD
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) February 28, 2026
