Shane van Gisbergen Watkins Glen remains a painful memory for the three-time Supercars champion after a near-win slipped away late in the 2023 Cup Series event. Last September, Van Gisbergen appeared poised to take victory at Watkins Glen, leading the race following a restart with just two laps remaining, only to lose control during a critical moment in the final corners. The unforced error handed the win to Chris Buescher and left Van Gisbergen with a disappointing runner-up finish.
In a dramatic finish, Van Gisbergen passed Buescher on the restart and seemed fully in command. However, on the white flag lap, a misstep at the bus stop corner allowed Buescher to close the gap quickly. The RFK Racing driver made an aggressive inside move into the carousel, resulting in contact. Despite Van Gisbergen’s intense fight to regain the lead, he nearly spun out, ultimately conceding victory to Buescher.
Ongoing Frustration and Determination to Improve
Van Gisbergen has openly admitted he remains bothered by the race-ending mistake at Watkins Glen. Reflecting in a weekly team briefing, he said,
“I still get frustrated thinking about that race,”
and added,
“When I make a personal mistake like that, it makes me angry to think that I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was, and we had the fastest car all day, then to do that. I really want to get there this weekend, make no mistakes, have a fast car and try an execute all day. Which we have been doing on the road courses, and it will be good to continue doing that.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
His comments underline how much that loss still lingers as motivation. After a sixth-place finish at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Van Gisbergen has demonstrated remarkable speed and control on road and street circuits in 2024, building momentum toward redemption. Earlier this season, he won the inaugural race in Mexico City, dominated Sonoma Raceway by leading nearly 90% of laps, and impressively swept the weekend at the Chicago Street Course.
Continued Growth on Road Courses and Ovals
Though already successful on road tracks—earning a win in his NASCAR debut at Chicago in 2023—Van Gisbergen’s recent performances indicate he is still improving. His Mexico City win marked the largest margin of victory in any NASCAR event in the past 16 years, highlighting his growing dominance.
Asked about the secret to his recent success, Van Gisbergen explained,
“I think it’s just been time on the road courses, learning what we want from the car, changing our philosophy,”
and added,
“We’ve really clicked on the road course set up and made our cars a lot better. On the ovals too, we are getting better as a team.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR driver
This progress extends beyond road courses as Van Gisbergen continues gaining experience and strength on ovals, rounding out his versatility this season.
Looking Ahead to Watkins Glen and Playoff Implications
As the NASCAR Cup Series returns to Watkins Glen for the 2024 event, Van Gisbergen is eager to rewrite his story with a strong performance. A victory at The Glen this Sunday would not only provide personal vindication but also tie him with Denny Hamlin for the most Cup wins this year, totaling four. Such an outcome would also earn valuable bonus points to aid his playoff aspirations, intensifying the stakes for the New Zealand driver.
Van Gisbergen’s ability to combine speed with consistent execution at road courses could be decisive as the season reaches its climactic stages. With his experience, determination, and a fast car in hand, the prospect of overcoming last year’s disappointment fuels his focus heading into the race weekend.