Old photos of Shane van Gisbergen with hair have resurfaced online, and NASCAR fans are losing it. Known for his clean-shaven head and calm dominance on road courses, SVG’s throwback look sparked a wave of jokes and comparisons across social media. But behind the laughs is a serious contender heading into Sonoma. Fresh off a historic sweep in Chicago, SVG returns to one of his strongest tracks with momentum, confidence, and a shot at doubling up once again.
Key Highlights
- Old photos of Shane van Gisbergen with hair spark viral reactions online.
- Fans compare SVG to Cody Ware, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and even Jimmie Johnson.
- SVG enters Sonoma weekend after sweeping both Cup and Xfinity races in Chicago.
- His road course resume includes victories at Chicago, Mexico City, Portland, and Sonoma.
- With Trackhouse and JR Motorsports behind him, SVG is favored to sweep again in wine country.
SVG With Hair? Fans React to the Rare Sight
Shane van Gisbergen is many things—street course expert, Supercars legend, and now NASCAR’s road course king. But hair model? That’s not something most fans associate with the 35-year-old Kiwi.
This week, old photos of SVG with a full head of hair resurfaced on social media, and fans wasted no time in cracking jokes and drawing comparisons.
“Somehow he looks older here,” one fan wrote, staring down the youthful yet oddly aged look of pre-NASCAR SVG.
Others couldn’t resist poking fun by comparing him to other NASCAR personalities:
“Is it just me or does he kinda look like Cody Ware in that pic?”
“Looks like a blend of Stenhouse and Jimmie Johnson 🤣” – NASCAR fans
Some fans even brought up Chase Briscoe’s much-discussed hairline, with one suggesting, “Him and Briscoe need to see if they can get a group discount on a trip to Turkey.”
Another chimed in: “Briscoe is too far gone imo. He’d need a whole hair piece. He really should just shave it off. Not sure what he’s waiting for.”
For international fans, it was a nostalgic surprise. “I’m an Aussie and I honestly forgot there was a time where he had hair. It’s been shaved for so long that it’s weird looking at those old pics of him.”
Even Joey Logano’s name got pulled into the conversation, with one user joking,
“Joey Logano knows a guy.”
Behind the Memes: SVG’s Road Course Mastery
While the hair talk dominated timelines, SVG’s driving record is what’s truly remarkable. Since joining NASCAR, van Gisbergen has flipped the script on what international drivers can achieve, especially on road and street circuits.
Here’s a look at his road course résumé:
NASCAR Cup Series Road Course Wins
- 2023 Chicago Street Course: Won in his Cup debut under wet conditions—first modern-era driver to do so.
- 2025 Mexico City Road Course: Dominated the event and won by 16.5 seconds.
- 2025 Chicago Street Course: Swept the weekend from the pole position.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Road Course Wins
- 2024 Portland International Raceway: First Xfinity win, showcasing adaptability.
- 2024 Sonoma Raceway: Led 32 laps and pulled off a late pass for the win.
- 2025 Chicago Street Course: Held off teammate Connor Zilisch to win from the pole
His recent sweep in Chicago was historic. By starting from the pole and winning both the. Xfinity and Cup races, SVG became just the second driver in NASCAR history—after Kyle Busch at Indy in 2016—to sweep a weekend from the front in both national series.
Eyes on Sonoma: Can SVG Sweep Again?
As the NASCAR garage heads to Sonoma Raceway, attention isn’t just on SVG’s photos—it’s on his potential to repeat the Chicago sweep in wine country.
Sonoma, with its 12-turn, 1.99-mile layout and signature elevation changes, is a road course that demands control, tire conservation, and well-timed aggression. SVG has already shown he can handle it.
In 2024, he started from the pole and led the most laps in the Xfinity race en route to victory. Now, in 2025, he enters the weekend as the consensus favorite for both the Xfinity and Cup events. Analysts, bookmakers, and fans alike believe he could become the first driver to sweep Sonoma in both series in a single year.
What gives SVG the edge?
- Momentum: He’s fresh off a double-win in Chicago.
- Trck Record: He’s already won at Sonoma and thrives in technical corners.
- Team Strength: Trackhouse Racing and JR Motorsports continue to give him top-tier equipment.
- Experience: Years in Australian Supercars prepared him for the precision needed on tracks like Sonoma.
News in Brief: Shane van Gisbergen Gives Fans a Jolt
Shane van Gisbergen has become NASCAR’s road course benchmark, with major wins across Chicago, Portland, Mexico City, and Sonoma. While throwback photos of him with hair have stirred laughs online, his recent performance—especially the 2025 Chicago sweep—proves he’s the real deal. With strong backing from his teams and unmatched cornering precision, SVG enters the Sonoma weekend aiming to sweep again. Whether fans are focused on his shaved head or victory lane photos, one thing’s clear: van Gisbergen has everyone watching.
ALSO READ: Shane van Gisbergen Eyes Another Sonoma Sweep: Full Breakdown of His Chances
