Shane Van Gisbergen has dominated several road course events this NASCAR season, securing three wins and establishing a strong playoff position. However, his ability to contend for the 2025 championship depends heavily on improving his performance on oval tracks, a task that remains daunting for the Trackhouse Racing driver.
At the recent Dover race, Van Gisbergen began optimistic inside the top ten but quickly faced setbacks. A right-front tire puncture forced an early pit stop, causing him to lose multiple laps and effectively ending his chances for a strong finish at the Delaware track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Criticizes Trackhouse Performance at Dover
In his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. expressed concern over Trackhouse Racing’s handling of Van Gisbergen’s car at Dover. Despite the driver’s previous excitement about the race, Earnhardt Jr. highlighted that even when SVG was running unhindered, his car ranked only 31st in speed metrics, signaling deeper issues with the team’s setup on ovals.
We’re coming out of the road courses, where there was a ton of SVG talk. We’re now back to the ovals, where SVG told us last week he was looking forward to going to Dover. He goes out there, flat right-front tire right away. Ruined any opportunity for him to truly gauge himself against the competition at the ovals, and try to carry forward that learning curve,
Earnhardt Jr. stated.
Looking at his speed metrics in the NASCAR Insights, he was 31st overall on speed. … I feel like that he’s probably wishing or hoping that it might have been a little bit of a better weekend, in terms of just overall pace. I think that the Trackhouse stuff just wasn’t very good this weekend.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Jr. further stressed the urgency for Trackhouse Racing to step up, warning that Van Gisbergen’s strong playoff points could be wasted if the team fails to provide a car competitive enough on ovals.
They’re going to have to improve their cars a lot to give SVG a chance. What I’m worried about is, how loud is the noise going to be if he goes in and misses and gets eliminated in the Round of 16 with 17 or more playoff points? That would be pretty unprecedented, I believe, to be eliminated in the first round with that bit of an advantage. I would be frantically trying to put myself in a position, at least trying to have a fighting chance of moving beyond the first round. I think, even by the end of this year, he’s still not going to be one of the best oval racers in the series If that’s the case, Trackhouse has to have very, very good race cars to help him. He can’t wheel a P15 car into a P10 finish.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt Jr. Emphasizes the Need for Team Support
Earnhardt Jr. made it clear that the responsibility for improving results on ovals does not rest solely with Van Gisbergen. Both driver and team must work together to close the gap on oval tracks, where the competition remains fierce.
I think Trackhouse has to work a little bit to try to help SVG over these next couple of weeks. Kind of dial it in a little bit. He’s got to improve, but the car’s got to get better too, man.
—Dale Earnhardt Jr.
With upcoming races, including the next event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway where Van Gisbergen finished fourth in last season‘s Xfinity Series race, both the driver and Trackhouse Racing are under pressure to turn around recent struggles. How the team responds could shape Van Gisbergen’s chances in the crucial playoff rounds ahead.
Looking Ahead: Playoff Prospects and Performance Expectations
Van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses has proven his talent, but to remain a serious contender for the championship, he must translate that success to oval tracks. The Trackhouse Racing team faces an urgent challenge: improving their cars to meet the demands of oval racing while supporting their driver’s growth in that discipline.
The Dover difficulties serve as a warning sign that, without significant progress, Van Gisbergen risks an unexpected playoff exit despite a points advantage. Fans and analysts will watch closely in the weeks to come to see whether the team can elevate their performance before the playoffs intensify.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Van Gisbergen permanently left Supercars after a standout debut in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, winning in Chicago. When asked why he left Supercars, he explained that he wasn’t enjoying the experience. “I hated that car,” he said about the Gen3 Camaro.
Q. How much does Shane van Gisbergen earn?
A. Base Salary: Van Gisbergen’s yearly base pay is about $1 million. Bonuses: He can receive bonuses for winning in races and championships. Endorsements: Van Gisbergen has deals with top brands such as Red Bull, Holden, and Vodafone.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. Thinking about his decision to leave Supercars, van Gisbergen explained he was not having fun racing. He described the Gen3 Camaro as a boring car. He added that he’d only be driving at 40 percent effort; pushing harder would slow him down or make things worse.