Shane Van Gisbergen has firmly established himself as a NASCAR championship contender status following his commanding victory at the Viva Mexico 250 on June 15 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The Trackhouse Racing driver not only won the race by a historic margin but also secured a coveted playoff position in his rookie full-time Cup Series season.
Van Gisbergen’s Commanding Performance at the Viva Mexico 250
Starting from pole position, Shane Van Gisbergen maintained a strong presence at the front throughout the race. Demonstrating his exceptional skill on road courses, he swept Stage 2 and went on to cross the finish line 16 seconds ahead of his closest competitor—the largest winning gap since Kurt Busch’s 2009 triumph at Texas Motor Speedway. This dominant victory elevated Van Gisbergen to 30th place in the driver standings, earning him 242 points and 85 laps led, including 60 at the Mexican circuit.
Securing a Playoff Position and Breaking a Top-10 Dry Spell
With this win, Van Gisbergen clinched a spot in the NASCAR playoffs, joining his Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain. The victory ended a streak of finishes outside the top 10, which stretched back to his sixth-place result at the Circuit of the Americas. His breakthrough performance has boosted confidence in his ability to compete consistently at this level.
Van Gisbergen on His Growth and Playoff Milestone
Reflecting on his progress, Van Gisbergen acknowledged the importance of the playoff berth for him and his team.
“Yeah, it means everything to us. That’s essentially why I’m here, right? But I am getting better and more competitive on ovals. I said earlier, my average oval running position has gone from 85th to 10th to 20th or 10th to 15th on a good day,” he said via ASAP Sports.
He also described his methodical improvements over the season, emphasizing teamwork and steady development.
“Like we’re really making a lot of progress and sort of not been forcing. I’ve been methodical, got better every week, and it’s been really fun working with my 88 crew all year, but the last couple of months, yeah, it’s been great to show some improvement and be competitive,” he added.
Determined to Prove His Value in the Cup Series
Van Gisbergen has openly admitted the challenges he faces adapting to oval tracks, which are a critical part of the Cup Series. Despite being a three-time Australian Supercars champion known for road racing, he recognizes the need to perform well on ovals to justify his full-time status.
“I’m here to win road races. But I’m not here to run last on the ovals either. I need to keep getting better to justify being a Cup Series driver. I need to be performing on the ovals, too,” he said via ASAP Sports.
Through 16 starts, Van Gisbergen has struggled with consistency on oval circuits, finishing outside the top 20 in 12 races. Yet, he is eager to capitalize on the four remaining road course events this regular season, including a return to Chicago where he earned his first Cup Series victory.
Upcoming Challenges at Pocono Raceway
Looking ahead, Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing face a significant test at Pocono Raceway, a challenging Superspeedway with an unusual triangular layout. The race scheduled for June 22 will mark another opportunity for him to show growth on oval tracks as he works to maintain momentum and prove his championship potential.