Shane van Gisbergen’s exceptional performance in Mexico once again highlighted his dominance on street circuits, a fact well recognized by those within the racing community. The Kiwi driver, who gained prominence with his 2023 Chicago Cup Series win, left a lasting impression by finishing over 16 seconds ahead of his closest competitors in the Mexican race. This staggering margin emphasized his superior command on such tracks, earning respect from top contenders like Ryan Blaney.
Ryan Blaney Shares Respectful Perspective on Van Gisbergen’s Skills
In a recent discussion on SiriusXM NASCAR, Ryan Blaney reflected on van Gisbergen’s extraordinary capabilities with a mix of admiration and candid humor. Blaney admitted that van Gisbergen consistently races so far ahead that he rarely has the opportunity to run directly behind him during events.
“The only time I watch him is on the TV, because I don’t see him during the race. He’s so far ahead of me. It’s not often that I get to be behind him. Man, honestly, it’s… For me, it’s not really frustration. It’s a lot of admiration. I know how good he is.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Blaney went on to highlight how van Gisbergen’s meticulous performance dismantled the field, especially noting his dominant display at the Mexico street course.
“It’s so impressive. Like, how good he is, especially up to street courses. I mean, he showed it in Mexico as well. How much of a butt kicking that he put on us there?”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
“While he was coming out both ends, as he was saying in Mexico, and he still put 15 seconds on everybody. So, it’s just impressive, man.”
—Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Driver
Technical Mastery Sets Van Gisbergen Apart on Street Circuits
Blaney explained that even with advanced analysis tools, such as SMT data that teams use to identify time losses on each lap segment, his team finds it difficult to pinpoint any particular error that slows them down compared to van Gisbergen. Rather, the New Zealander’s overall lap execution is flawless, with every corner and straight knit together seamlessly.
The Team Penske driver emphasized van Gisbergen’s remarkable management of his car’s performance over uneven surfaces and his efficiency in extracting maximum speed without pushing the machine to its limits. Blaney suggested that van Gisbergen operates at about 90 percent capacity, implying that if he were to push harder, his competitors would be contending solely for second place.
Contrasting Results on Ovals and Road Courses
While van Gisbergen has yet to translate his street course success to strong oval performances, his current ranking stands at 27th in the oval standings despite two victories. Conversely, Blaney holds a better position in the sport with seventh overall and one win during the season. However, on road courses and street circuits, van Gisbergen remains the dominant force, consistently outperforming everyone including Blaney.
Implications for the Cup Series Landscape
Van Gisbergen’s unquestionable superiority on street courses has reshaped expectations among drivers and teams, highlighting a new benchmark in road course racing. Blaney’s honest acknowledgment of van Gisbergen’s prowess signals a deep respect and recognition that closing this gap will require extraordinary effort. As the season progresses, competitors will be keenly watching if van Gisbergen can maintain his unmatched form and whether others, including Blaney, can adapt to challenge him more closely on these demanding circuits.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has Ryan Blaney ever won Talladega?
A. Blaney came in eighth place at the Charlotte Roval, allowing him to move on to the Round of 12.
He later secured a win at the fall race in Talladega. The victory was a very close finish, just 0.007 seconds ahead of Ryan Newman.
This win pushed him into the Round of 8, even though he had an earlier spin onto the pit road.
Q. Has Ryan Blaney won at Talladega?
A. Blaney claimed victory at the Talladega fall race by a narrow margin of 0.007 seconds over Ryan Newman. This close win moved him into the Round of 8, even though he spun onto pit road earlier in the race.