William Byron is establishing himself as one of the top road course racers in the NASCAR Cup Series, making his perspective on Shane van Gisbergen’s swift rise especially insightful. Byron, who has earned two road course victories at COTA and Watkins Glen among numerous strong finishes, acknowledges van Gisbergen’s remarkable skill and adaptability since his NASCAR debut in 2023.
Byron’s own road course success includes six top-five and 15 top-10 results in 36 starts, reflecting his deep understanding of the discipline. His extensive preparation involves reviewing race footage and analyzing competitors to gain an edge, an approach he continues to apply as van Gisbergen reshapes the road course racing landscape.
Van Gisbergen’s Transition From International Racing to NASCAR Excellence
The New Zealand driver entered NASCAR at age 34 after a successful career overseas, including multiple championships in the Australian V8 Supercars series. Since winning his first NASCAR race at the 2023 Chicago Street Race, van Gisbergen has accumulated four Cup Series wins and four Xfinity Series victories, all on road courses.
Despite his late start in NASCAR and limited oval experience, van Gisbergen is quickly improving his skills on oval tracks, an area Byron notes he is mastering fast.
“What I see with him is he looks like us on ovals,”
Byron said.
“He’s just comfortable from lap one. He has a good understanding of what to achieve in his car. He’s smooth, he’s not sliding the tire to make speed, so he’s not out there out of control. When he makes a good lap time, it’s repeatable, and he learns from it. He makes another good one.”
—William Byron, NASCAR driver
Similarities Between NASCAR and Supercars Road Course Racing
Byron highlights that while NASCAR Cup cars differ from Supercars, especially in design, the fundamentals of road course racing remain quite consistent between the two series. This similarity has helped van Gisbergen adjust quickly to NASCAR’s demands.
“When I look at him, I just see a guy that just fully understands what we’re doing,”
Byron stated, expressing admiration for van Gisbergen’s rapid adaptation to NASCAR.
Byron noted key shared characteristics between the vehicles, such as low-profile tires and sequential shifters, which likely eased van Gisbergen’s transition from Australian Supercars to NASCAR road courses.
“I’m impressed with how quickly he adapts to the car, but I think his technique and everything reminds me a lot of how a lot of us achieve stuff on ovals where we’re just comfortable from lap one. He can just find his limits. He’s very particular with the car as well.”
—William Byron, NASCAR driver
Van Gisbergen’s Growing Influence on NASCAR’s Road Course Competitiveness
Van Gisbergen’s presence in NASCAR is already changing the competitive landscape on road courses, pushing established drivers like Byron to pay close attention to his racing approaches. His blend of international experience and quick learning has brought fresh techniques and intensity to the series.
As van Gisbergen further develops his oval racing skills alongside his proven road course expertise, he is poised to become a significant force within NASCAR’s broader racing spectrum, inspiring both rivals and fans alike.
