Shane Van Gisbergen has dominated road course racing this season, but his struggles on ovals have prevented him from advancing deeper in the NASCAR playoffs. The New Zealand driver, known for his skill on road and street courses, is now demonstrating clear progress in addressing this challenge, as seen in his recent performance at Kansas Speedway.
At the Kansas race on Sunday, Van Gisbergen’s effort suggested that his oval racing skills are developing steadily, raising expectations for stronger playoff showings in the future.
Overcoming Early Setbacks to Score a First Oval Top 10
Despite a difficult start that included a stop-and-go penalty for inspection violations and racing without his crew chief Stephen Doran, Van Gisbergen managed an impressive comeback. Early in the race, he was nearly a full lap down, stuck behind the field through stage one. However, a crash on lap 90 allowed him to restart near the back in 35th position, giving him a chance to recover.
Van Gisbergen steadily worked his way up through the pack in Stage 2, climbing into the top 20 and holding 19th place as the race progressed. In the final stage, he gained momentum, moving into the top 15 and then pushing toward the top 10.
Even after contact with Alex Bowman, Van Gisbergen maintained focus and was running eighth with just 10 laps remaining. Amid the chaos of an overtime restart, he held his position and secured his first top-10 finish on an oval track.
It was really cool to get a top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway,
Van Gisbergen said after the race.
I feel like we’re getting better and better at these tracks. It was difficult starting a lap down and having that penalty, but (interim crew chief) Chais Eliason did a great job.
We had really good speed at points of the race, so I’m stoked to get a top-10. I’m over the moon with that,
he added.
Signs of Growing Consistency on Ovals Fuel Optimism for Upcoming Seasons
The No. 88 Trackhouse Racing car has shown gradual improvement on oval circuits in recent weeks. Van Gisbergen earned a 14th-place finish at Richmond and reached the top five at New Hampshire before an unfortunate crash ended his run there prematurely.
Though the New Zealander exited the playoffs in the Round of 16, his performance trajectory speaks to a clear focus on enhancing his oval abilities. This development could transform him into a more balanced and formidable NASCAR competitor next season.
Van Gisbergen’s oval progress sends a strong signal to other drivers: once he masters these tracks, his threat in the NASCAR Cup Series will only grow.
With a 10th place finish at Kansas today, SVG recorded his 10th Cup Series Top 10 and his FIRST on an oval! pic.twitter.com/RndXhXIyOE
— Daniel Céspedes (@_DanielCespedes) September 28, 2025
