At Watkins Glen International in New York, Shane van Gisbergen secured his fourth victory of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, marking the fifth win of his career in the Cup Series. This accomplishment continues his incredible streak of success on road courses this year, asserting his dominance as the driver of the No. 88 car.
Van Gisbergen’s win at Watkins Glen also sees him matching Denny Hamlin for the most wins in the season so far. As the playoffs approach in three weeks, van Gisbergen’s accumulation of valuable playoff points strengthens his position among the championship contenders.
Breaking Records and Building Legacy in Rookie Season
By capturing this victory, van Gisbergen breaks a tie with NASCAR legends Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson for the most wins in a single Cup season by a rookie driver. His four consecutive road course wins at Autodromos Hermanos Rodriguez, the Chicago street course, Sonoma Raceway, and now Watkins Glen display a remarkable consistency and skill on demanding circuits.
For the New Zealander, team synergy with Trackhouse Racing has played a crucial role, enabling him to deliver top performances throughout the season. His success is the result not only of his skill behind the wheel but also the strong collaboration within his team.
Van Gisbergen Reflects on His Road Course Success
After his latest victory, van Gisbergen expressed the significance of the achievement. “It means everything,” he said. He highlighted the rigorous preparation the team undertakes every week, emphasizing how their constant improvements have contributed to their recent success.
“It’s just been cool working with a great bunch of people. To share four wins with everyone and see how much it meant to everyone — when they’re high-fiving during the burnout, you can see how into it they are. It’s so cool.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Van Gisbergen’s road course winning streak dwarfs previous rookie records held by Stewart and Johnson, both of whom set their marks on oval tracks during their rookie campaigns.
Van Gisbergen’s journey began with a victory at the Chicago street course, where he claimed his first career win in his debut race. His performance at Sonoma not only added to his win tally, but also made him the winningest foreign-born driver in Cup history. The Watkins Glen victory had added importance for van Gisbergen, who had narrowly missed winning at the same track the previous year after a mistake on the final lap cost him the race.
Teamhouse Racing’s Commitment and Road Course Challenge Ahead
Stephen Doran, van Gisbergen’s crew chief, explained the ambition behind their road course success.
“’[Team owner Justin Marks] said, ‘Let’s go win all of them,’”
Doran recalled. “We’ve come close.”
Justin Marks praised van Gisbergen’s excellence, noting,
“What he’s doing right now is why he’s in the car,”
adding,
“To watch him continue to execute at such a high level is why we’ve made a big commitment to him… It’s gonna be hard to really understand the gravity of it until we are removed from it for some time. Right now, we’re just enjoying it.”
—Justin Marks, Team Owner
Van Gisbergen’s win came shortly after signing a multi-year contract extension with Trackhouse Racing on August 8, further solidifying his place within the team and providing stability as the season moves toward the playoffs.
“I feel like Trackhouse Racing is my home,”
van Gisbergen said, acknowledging the growth of his partnership with the team that began as a one-off project with PROJECT91 before evolving into a full-time commitment.
Van Gisbergen’s Personal Motivation and Future Goals
Reflecting on his remarkable rookie campaign, van Gisbergen discussed the personal sacrifices that fueled his rise. He shared,
“That’s why Justin believed in me. He knew I could do this. I changed my life to come and do this. To come and make true of what everyone believed in me, and to execute myself and get everything right? It’s why I go racing.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Despite the excitement, van Gisbergen admitted that the full impact of his success often hits him later.
“It normally hits me on the plane ride home — or 4 a.m. after a few beers,”
he joked, recalling a humorous tweet sent after his Chicago victory.
He added playfully,
“I’ll try not to tweet at 4 a.m. tonight.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Van Gisbergen described how he now takes time to reflect and savor the moments amid the hectic race schedule, showing a matured appreciation for his achievements.
Preparing to Break Another Road Course Record
Looking ahead, van Gisbergen and the No. 88 team have their sights set on making history by becoming the first driver to win five consecutive road course races in a single season, with the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL remaining on the 2025 schedule.
Van Gisbergen described the ROVAL as “a funky, odd track,” but one that offers “a pretty cool challenge.” He expressed confidence in their potential to perform well there if they advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Stephen Doran also praised van Gisbergen’s rapid adaptation on oval tracks, highlighting the driver’s quick learning curve.
“He’s such a quick learner. You look at some of these places like Darlington [Raceway], he was honestly a top-10 car.… Some of these others will be a lot better than the first time around.”
—Stephen Doran, Crew Chief
While van Gisbergen has yet to claim his first oval victory, the team is optimistic about his continued growth and ability to improve on tracks where experience will play a crucial role.
A Rising Star’s Journey in NASCAR’s Spotlight
Shane van Gisbergen’s string of wins in his rookie NASCAR season represents a remarkable shift in the series, emphasizing the rising influence of international drivers and the increasing complexity of road course races. As a three-time Australian V8 Supercars champion, he has successfully transitioned his skills to America’s premier stock car series, solidifying his place among NASCAR’s emerging talents.
The combination of van Gisbergen’s speed, consistency, and team support at Trackhouse Racing suggests that he is poised for a significant impact in the 2025 playoffs and beyond, with ambitions that extend well past his current record-setting performances.