Shane van Gisbergen has solidified his reputation as NASCAR’s premier road course specialist by racking up four wins this season, tying Jeff Gordon and Chase Elliott for the most consecutive road course victories in the series. Despite this, the Trackhouse Racing driver acknowledges a significant struggle adapting to NASCAR’s traditional oval tracks, a challenge he continues to face as the 2025 playoff season approaches. His journey reflects the difficulty of transitioning from road course dominance to mastering oval circuits, a fundamental aspect of NASCAR’s history since 1949.
Early Oval Racing Experiences Reveal a Steep Learning Curve
Before 2024, van Gisbergen had no experience competing on paved ovals, making his entry into NASCAR’s oval racing tier particularly demanding. His progress became visible during a May 2025 test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a turning point that led him to lead 54 laps shortly after at North Wilkesboro Speedway’s 0.625-mile short oval in the All-Star Open. Further evidence of growth came with his Pro Legends A-feature victory at Charlotte’s Cook Out Summer Shootout, where he narrowly beat Jake Bollman after a tight 25-lap battle. Nevertheless, van Gisbergen openly criticizes his ongoing challenges, underscoring how difficult oval racing remains for him.
“It’s just difficult. You’d think two corners only would be easier, but the style of racing over here is just so different…It’s so different, the way the cars react, the way they’re set up, the way they load into the corners, the banking of the corners. And, of course, the speed we’re going. Like, the average speed is almost 300 ks for most of the tracks. It’s ridiculous how fast you’re going and how close you are to everyone.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Van Gisbergen’s inconsistency on ovals is evident between his road course triumphs, with disappointing 30th-place or worse finishes at Dover and Iowa weighing on his confidence. A significant hurdle remains the minimal practice time allotted to drivers on oval tracks, often just 15 to 20 minutes per race weekend, which stands in stark contrast to the half-hour or longer sessions available on road courses. This limited opportunity to adapt exacerbates his struggle and forces him to learn on the fly during races.
“And then you have bugger all practice. There’s only 15 minutes every week. Whereas on a circuit in a normal series, you have half an hour to an hour every week. Yeah, so it’s not much track time, and then they throw you in the deep end of the race, and you’re sort of learning on the fly. So, just taking time.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Challenges Ahead as Playoffs Loom for the Kiwi Driver
Shane van Gisbergen’s oval struggles are accentuated by his relatively late switch to NASCAR at age 34, compared to younger rookies who often have more time to acclimate and build endurance. His illustrious history as a Supercars champion with 81 wins highlights his immense talent, but the transition demands a different skill set and adaptability. The looming 2025 playoffs represent a particularly daunting challenge, where oval races predominate. Although the Charlotte Roval provides a road course round in the playoffs’ second stage, van Gisbergen must first navigate demanding oval venues like Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol. His past results at these tracks suggest a tough road; Darlington starts yielded finishes of 20th and 26th place, he has yet to compete at Gateway, and a Bristol appearance ended with a 38th-place result due to suspension problems.
Veteran NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin offered perspective on van Gisbergen’s situation, emphasizing his unparalleled road racing prowess while acknowledging the difficulties he faces on ovals.
“On the road courses, it’s a little more straightforward. As long as there’s not an ill-timed caution. … There’s no doubt the guy can go through traffic. Zero doubt on my mind. Is he the best road course racer I’ve ever seen? Absolutely. I competed against the Tony Stewarts, the Jeff Gordons — all those guys. He’s better than all of them. But the only thing you’re going to have to mix this up, to keep him from winning every single road course race, is — it’s going to have to take something wacky. Or else you can just go ahead and write the script for the next foreseeable future.”
—Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Driver
The High Stakes of Mastering Oval Racing for SVG’s Future
Shane van Gisbergen’s situation underscores the significant challenge of balancing expertise on road courses with competitiveness on ovals, the latter being the cornerstone of NASCAR racing since its inception. His rapid rise as a road course contender has impressed fans and experts alike; however, the coming races will be the true test of whether he can broaden his skill set. Success at ovals is crucial not just for playoff survival but also to avoid being pigeonholed as a specialist confined to road courses.
As the 2025 season unfolds, all eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if he can apply his championship-winning racing acumen to the high-speed, tightly contested world of oval racing, or whether his legacy will remain tied primarily to road courses. His development at tracks like Darlington, Gateway, and Bristol will be pivotal in defining his NASCAR future, making this upcoming period one of the most intense and revealing phases of his career so far.