Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has been sharpening his skills through Legends car racing, a popular platform for emerging drivers to refine their race craft. Currently competing for Trackhouse Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, van Gisbergen took part in the 2025 Cook Out Summer Shootout held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. His involvement in this high-intensity series has been an important part of his development in adapting to NASCAR’s challenging environment.
Experience Shared with Fellow Drivers
In a recent conversation with Corey LaJoie on the Stacking Pennies podcast, van Gisbergen revealed how 23XI Racing driver Bubba Wallace introduced him to the world of Legends cars. Alongside Scott McLaughlin, the trio enjoyed competing against young, skilled drivers in the shootout. Their friendly rivalry even included a lighthearted bet: whoever finished last would have to pay for dinner. Surprisingly, contrary to what van Gisbergen and McLaughlin expected, Wallace ended up paying most frequently, proving that the competition was fierce.
Key Lessons from the Legends Car Challenge
Van Gisbergen emphasized the valuable mindset lessons he gained across the 10 rounds of the Legends car series. He reflected on the unpredictability of restarts, comparing them to those at Martinsville, where choosing the outside line can help a driver gain positions but requires immediate and precise action. Addressing the emotional challenges of racing, he noted the importance of maintaining composure after contact rather than reacting in anger to setbacks.
You learn a lot. So, you have to choose yourself. The restarts are crazy. The restarts are just like Martinsville. You know, if you choose the outside, you can gain a row, but you have to get down as quick as you can … And then also keep in your head, like if someone hits you, you can’t just snap and get angry at that guy. You’ve got to kind of get your momentum going. It’s been fun learning that.
— Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Building Resilience for NASCAR’s Demanding Nature
The NASCAR Cup Series is known for its intense competition and frequent on-track conflicts, which can easily overwhelm new drivers. The experience van Gisbergen has gained while racing against younger and aggressive drivers in Legends cars has been valuable in preparing him for these challenges. This training in adapting quickly and managing race tension is expected to benefit him as he pilots his Chevrolet Camaro in upcoming races.
A Milestone Victory and Future Prospects
The culmination of van Gisbergen’s Legends car efforts came on July 29 during the final round of the Cook Out Summer Shootout. After qualifying third behind Jake Bollman and Tyler Reif in the Pro Legends A-Feature, he secured a narrow win in the 25-lap race by just 0.417 seconds. This achievement marked his first oval track win in the United States, a significant milestone that could foreshadow his future success in the NASCAR Cup Series.