Shane van Gisbergen has shaken up NASCAR like no other in recent memory. His wins aren’t just victories—they’re statements. In only two years, the New Zealander has turned NASCAR’s road and street courses into his playground. Now, with Sonoma Raceway approaching fast, there’s one big question in the garage: can anyone stop him?
Key Highlights
- Shane van Gisbergen has three career NASCAR Cup Series wins, all on road/street courses
- He swept the 2025 Chicago Street Race weekend, winning both Xfinity and Cup Series races from the pole
- SVG holds two Cup wins this season—Mexico City and Chicago
- His road course performance impacts the 2025 playoff grid, with more non-oval races ahead
- He will drive the No. 88 car for Trackhouse Racing this weekend at Sonoma Raceway, where he’s a favorite
From Supercars to Street Kingship
Shane van Gisbergen didn’t just arrive in NASCAR—he changed it. After dominating the Australian Supercars Championship, where he earned three titles, he brought his talents stateside. Known as one of the world’s best on street and road courses, SVG made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race—and won it. It was the first debut win in NASCAR’s top series since 1963.
He returned in 2024 to take the Xfinity Series win at the same track. But in 2025, he went a step further—claiming both the Xfinity and Cup wins at Chicago from the pole, matching a feat last achieved by Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016.
His other Cup win in 2025 came at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, another road course. That gives him three Cup victories and the title of winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR history.
“He makes no mistakes, and he just waits until somebody misses an apex in front of him and he pounces on them. His laps are so consistent, and that’s part of why he saves his tires so well.” – Stephen Doran, crew chief
“He’s the best road course stock car racer that I’ve ever seen.” – Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing owner
Road Course Pressure in a Playoff Year
With two wins, SVG is virtually locked into the playoffs. That forces other contenders to shift strategy, especially with road and street courses playing a bigger role in 2025—including a critical playoff round. While his oval performances remain modest—his best oval finish this season is 14th at Charlotte—his domination on non-ovals makes him a dangerous dark horse for the championship.
Through just 16 combined Cup and Xfinity starts on road courses, he already has seven wins. And his average finish when not crashing or penalized is near the front.
“These [road] races feel like a holiday to me; they’re the events where I’m really focused on improving. I come here without any stress.” – Shane van Gisbergen
No driver has had a bigger effect on the playoff conversation this season than SVG. If he stays hot, especially at tracks like Sonoma, he could advance deep—maybe even into the final four. And if the title-deciding race ever lands on a road course, he’d be the immediate favorite.
News in Brief: Shane van Gisbergen’s Road Course Reign
Shane van Gisbergen has emerged as NASCAR’s premier road course racer with wins in Mexico City and a full sweep at Chicago in 2025. Driving for Trackhouse Racing, SVG’s skills—developed in Australian Supercars—have made him nearly unbeatable on technical layouts. His dominance has impacted the NASCAR Cup Series playoff picture, with drivers rethinking their road strategy. Heading into Sonoma Raceway, SVG remains the favorite. With seven road-course wins across Cup and Xfinity, his rapid ascent is rewriting NASCAR’s future—one tight corner at a time.
ALSO READ: Shane van Gisbergen’s Street Sweep Matches a Feat Last Seen in 2016
