Three-time Supercars champion and triple Bathurst 1000 winner, Shane van Gisbergen (SVG), found himself in an unusual position following a disastrous performance in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. A 34th placement in the championship standings seemed out of place for a racer as successful as SVG. Dale Earnhardt Jr voiced his concerns and cast an ominous prediction before the Talladega race.
SVG first entered NASCAR via Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program in 2023, which also introduced Helio Castroneves. Criticism from Dale Jr followed after Helio utilized the Open Exemption Provisional at the Daytona 500. Recently, Dale Jr drew attention to a worrying detail in SVG’s racing performance under ‘Project 91’s umbrella.
SVG, known for his speed on the circuit, seemed to struggle in the 2025 season. Issues at the Daytona 500, where an accident led to significant damage on his car, foreshadowed his ill-fated performance in the NASCAR Cup Series. Problems persisted at Las Vegas, Martinsville, and ultimately at Talladega, where SVG found himself laps behind due to technical issues.
The gravity of SVG’s situation really hit home when Dale Jr commented on peculiar data from SVG’s previous Talladega race. SVG registered a 20mph difference between his single car and peak draft speeds. Dale Jr found this disconcerting, responding simply with, “That’s a problem.”
SVG’s struggles continued at the next Talladega race, where he qualified in the 36th position for the Jack Link’s 500. Despite managing to avoid the four cautions during the race, SVG’s lack of speed kept him at the back with little room to improve his position. By the end of the race, his best effort only boosted him to 31st place. After the race, SVG disclosed to his fans his feelings of desperation and struggle.
As SVG looks to improve his performance and speed, his fans, as well as Dale Earnhardt Jr, rally around him. Dale Jr previously praised SVG’s retaliation tactics in the face of bullying exploits from rival racers. From SVG’s skill on the track to his strategies for seeking retribution, Dale Jr spotlighted the Kiwi as an example worth following.
SVG shocked the NASCAR world with a debut win in his Cup Series and a fantastic season in the 2024 Xfinity Series that included victories at Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago. Unfortunately, 2025 has proven more challenging for SVG, although fans remain hopeful that he will be able to bounce back and improve his standings. The burning question remains- Is SVG’s faltering speed a technical issue, or is the Kiwi star simply not cut out for the challenging ovals? Only time will tell.
