Shane van Gisbergen has Stopped Being an Oval Tourist
Known for conquering road courses, Shane van Gisbergen is quietly building a résumé on NASCAR’s oval tracks that has him climbing the championship standings.
Known for conquering road courses, Shane van Gisbergen is quietly building a résumé on NASCAR’s oval tracks that has him climbing the championship standings.
Watkins Glen delivered airborne camping equipment and total chaos Sunday. Shane van Gisbergen delivered another demolition job.
Shane van Gisbergen turned Watkins Glen qualifying into another reminder that road course racing remains his personal playground, grabbing pole on his 37th birthday.
After a rookie season highlighted by five road-course victories, Shane Van Gisbergen is beginning to show the kind of consistency on ovals that could make him a genuine championship contender.
Some drivers sulk in second; van Gisbergen smiles like he’s already planning how to take the win next time.
With five laps left and common sense politely excused from the building, Shane van Gisbergen dove four-wide into Turn 1 at Circuit of the Americas and turned a restart into a coronation.
Now that Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen share space at Trackhouse Racing, the expectation is civility. The reality is they’re still racing drivers.
After leading a career-best 48 laps on a drafting track, the defending champ tried to shortcut Stage 2—and instead short-circuited his afternoon.
The Trackhouse Racing driver knows how to win when right turns are involved. Now he’s proving he can survive—and thrive—when they aren’t.
Shane Van Gisbergen feeling optimistic about the 2026 season.