At the recent Watkins Glen race, Shane van Gisbergen reinforced why he stands out as one of NASCAR‘s finest road course drivers by outperforming Christopher Bell by 11.16 seconds in a commanding final lap. His Shane van Gisbergen road course mastery was on full display, confirming his dominance on technically demanding circuits.
Van Gisbergen‘s driving approach combines smooth yet aggressive maneuvers, expert tire management, and astute tactical decisions during restarts. By securing another victory at Watkins Glen, he joined an elite group of drivers—including Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon, and Dan Gurney—who have each won four straight NASCAR Cup races on street or road courses. This combination of raw speed and strategic racing skill makes him a formidable competitor whenever NASCAR races take place on road circuits.
The racing world took note of his exceptional pace during the event. As BrakeHard tweeted,
“SVG was 1.7 seconds faster than CBell on the last lap Byron was second fastest.”
—BrakeHard
William Byron also made headlines by posting the second-fastest times on the track. He showed remarkable consistency throughout the event, ultimately finishing fourth, while Chris Buescher secured third place.
Approaching a Record-Breaking Milestone in Road Course Success
Though relatively new to NASCAR with just 37 Cup Series starts, van Gisbergen has built an impressive resume on road courses with five career wins, including victories at Chicago (twice), Mexico City, Sonoma Raceway, and now Watkins Glen. This remarkable achievement underscores his quick rise as a dominant road racer in the Cup Series.
Before joining NASCAR, van Gisbergen established himself as a top competitor in the Australian and New Zealand Supercars, where he claimed 80 race wins and three championships. Currently, he is closing in on Jeff Gordon’s all-time NASCAR road course wins record of nine, positioning himself as a potential candidate for the greatest road racer in NASCAR history.
The only drivers with more road course victories are Rusty Wallace, Kyle Larson, Ricky Ruud, Bobby Allison (six wins each), Chase Elliott (seven wins), Tony Stewart (eight wins), and Jeff Gordon. Gordon’s streak of six consecutive road course wins from 1997 to 2000 remains a high benchmark, but van Gisbergen’s recent string of victories shows he is matching the level of consistency required to challenge that record.
Consistent Excellence Across Multiple Road Courses
Van Gisbergen’s triumphs at Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen highlight his adaptability and skill across varied road racing venues. Each win featured significant margins over competitors, reinforcing his reputation as a specialist on these challenging tracks. His current lead in road course playoff points further cements his status as a dominant figure during this phase of the NASCAR season.
As Shane van Gisbergen continues to build on this winning streak, his road course performances are reshaping expectations in NASCAR. Fans and experts alike are eager to see if he can sustain this level of excellence and potentially rewrite the history books on road course racing within the series.