The new championship format has shifted the focus of competition and Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen is someone, in particular, who feels
the new emphasis. The sport’s reigning road course master had earned previous positions in the Chase with his trophy haul on the road course stops on the schedule.
The 37-year-old New Zealander has a pair of wins in 2026 but sits 15th in points and currently is title-eligible based on the totality of his work, not only his
mastery on the road courses. And it’s something Van Gisbergen sad he has consciously worked on.
“I guess initially, it’s probably a good thing for the sport,” van Gisbergen said of the championship format change. “I guess initially, I was brought over here
for that ‘win and you’re in’ to guarantee a spot in the playoffs, so yeah, I certainly knew I had to get better at ovals, and I think we’ve done that.
“I don’t think my mindset has changed every race. I think maybe these couple of races, I’m points racing a little bit, but the rest of the year, you’re just
driving flat out. I don’t think I’ve ever really points raced trying to stay out of trouble. I think that when you’re not driving naturally, you find yourself in
trouble. So yeah, I just try and drive every race flat out.”
His emphasis and work is evident. He already has equaled career single season highs in top-fives (five) and top-10s (seven) with 13 races still remaining on the year. Four of his top-10s have come on traditionally difficult ovals and he’s twice set a career best showing on ovals – fifth place at both Nashville and North Wilkesboro (N.C.).
Van Gisbergen started his weekend off by winning the pole position for Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet– his first career pole in the series and first pole position of any kind on an oval.
He will start 31st Saturday night.
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