Shane van Gisbergen, recognized for his expertise on road courses, has secured three victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at those tracks and is now eager to prove himself on oval circuits. The New Zealand driver has expressed admiration for those who excel on ovals as he prepares for his next challenge in the Cup Series.

Recently, van Gisbergen showcased his growing talent by earning pole position at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 and finishing second behind Connor Zilisch in the Xfinity Series race the day before. These performances highlight his adaptability and competitive edge in NASCAR competition.

Respecting the Skill of Oval Specialists Ahead of Sonoma Event

Since transitioning from the Supercars Championship, van Gisbergen has thrived on NASCAR’s road and street courses, winning two of three races this season. With three more non-oval contests remaining, he remains a strong contender to extend his winning streak.

Despite his success, van Gisbergen acknowledges that mastering road courses alone won’t secure his long-term position in NASCAR, since the majority of races are held on oval tracks. With this in mind, he is determined to improve his oval racing skills in pursuit of his first Cup Series victory on these circuits.

Reflecting on the differences between racing styles, van Gisbergen explained the challenge of adapting between road courses and ovals.

“Yeah, like a night and day difference,”

he said following his pole-winning effort for the Xfinity race at Sonoma.

“Like I never really..well, I had seen an oval, I guess, was Nashville the week before I’d raced at Chicago (2023), but yeah, when you watch some of these guys drive, like there’s people on an oval that are unbelievable.”

“So fast and they come here and they’re 2 seconds off, you know? It’s just like, it’s a completely different sport, almost, the road courses vs ovals. So yeah, I feel like I’m getting better and better, but I still have so much to learn on ovals, and every week I’m developing, learning something new.”

“(I’m) learning what feelings and what I need from the car, and yeah, these races are fun for me.”

Adjusting to NASCAR Tracks Compared to New Zealand Circuits

Van Gisbergen also highlighted how NASCAR tracks differ significantly from circuits in his native New Zealand, especially regarding elevation and track layout.

“It’s pretty much its own track here (in the US), really,”

he noted.

“It’s tough. Like there’s a little bit of run-off like Turn 10 having a wall right outside the track is..that’s huge risk versus reward.”

“It’s a pretty cool corner there, knowing if you get it wrong, it’s a big penalty, but the speed you can carry through there and the time you can make up is pretty high. Coming down the S’s is really cool, but yeah, we don’t really have much tracks with elevation in New Zealand.”

The Road Ahead for Van Gisbergen in NASCAR

As van Gisbergen continues to develop his skill on oval circuits, his early success on road courses illustrates his strong potential within NASCAR. Overcoming the steep learning curve of oval racing will be critical for his progression as a rookie looking to secure victories across all types of tracks.

His respect for oval specialists and ongoing commitment to learning new techniques suggest a promising future. Each race brings new insights for van Gisbergen, and his determination to thrive in America’s predominantly oval-focused series remains clear.