Kyle Busch openly acknowledged Shane van Gisbergen’s impressive run on road courses, asserting he would retire before ever reaching SVG’s level of expertise at Sonoma Raceway. Kyle Busch praises Shane van Gisbergen for his achievements as SVG secured his third consecutive pole position ahead of the recent event at Sonoma.
Bush Recognizes SVG’s Exceptional Driving Technique
Busch highlighted Shane van Gisbergen’s mastery of heel-and-toe shifting, an advanced driving method that allows for precise control in the demanding braking zones characteristic of road courses like Sonoma. This technique, while commonplace for van Gisbergen due to his background, remains a challenging skill for many oval-focused drivers in NASCAR like Busch. Busch’s admiration was evident:
“I know that a lot of good road course racers had been good, but he’s been able to capitalize on those, and be able to win on those. I think he just grew up doing it, I believe. I mean, just the longevity of it all, but we also had others that had been here that had grown up doing that as well.”
—Kyle Busch, Driver
Busch continued by candidly admitting,
“He’s just really really good. He has the heel-toe method, I know. For me to try to figure that out, it would be until my retirement before I’m even 10% as good as he is at it. So that’s out of the window,”
he added.
SVG Claims Another Pole at Sonoma, Expanding His Dominance
During Sonoma Raceway qualifying, Shane van Gisbergen, behind the wheel of the #88 Trackhouse Racing chevrolet/”>Chevrolet, posted the fastest lap at 74.594 seconds to take the pole position. Chase Briscoe earned a spot on the front row next to SVG, with William Byron and Ross Chastain starting just behind. For this race, Kyle Busch is set to start alongside John Hunter Nemechek in row nine, a considerable distance back from the pole, suggesting the challenge posed by SVG’s road racing specialization.
The Sonoma pole marks SVG’s third straight top qualifying effort on a road course, following victories from pole at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City and on the Chicago street course. His consistent performance and race wins on varied tracks highlight his adaptability and dominance, reinforcing why so many competitors, including Busch, have voiced their respect.
AJ Allmendinger Surprises During Practice, SVG Stays Fast
In practice ahead of qualifying, AJ Allmendinger unexpectedly set the fastest time with a 75.950-second lap, outpacing Ty Gibbs and Shane van Gisbergen, who finished third on the sheets. Ty Gibbs split the difference with a time of 76.193 seconds. Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five, all delivering competitive laps at Sonoma. NASCAR analyst Dustin Albino commented:
“AJ Allmendinger leads the way at Sonoma in Cup Series practice. Allmendinger also topped the five-lap averages by more than three-tenths of a second. Ty Gibbs, SVG, Ross Chastain, and Kyle Larson are the top five on single-lap speed,”
—Dustin Albino, NASCAR Insider
This strong showing from Allmendinger, along with SVG’s consistently high performance, sets the stage for a competitive race day with several drivers poised as potential contenders.
SVG’s Racing Background Drives His NASCAR Success
Though a NASCAR rookie, SVG is far from inexperienced in high-level racing. As a three-time Supercars champion in Australia, he brings extensive expertise with cars similar in performance to those used in NASCAR. SVG made his NASCAR Cup Series debut memorable by winning the street race in Chicago in 2023, and he has since signed up for full-time competition with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series.
His rapid adjustment to NASCAR’s top competition, combined with repeated strong results, has not only made him a name to watch among drivers like Ross Chastain, William Byron, John Hunter Nemechek, and Ty Gibbs, but has also earned him praise from established stars like Kyle Busch. The presence of teams such as Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and Kaulig Racing reflects the expanding global talent and evolving competition within American stock car racing.
What SVG’s Dominance Means for NASCAR
Shane van Gisbergen’s performances on road courses—including his most recent pole at Sonoma—are altering expectations within the NASCAR Cup Series. His mastery of unique techniques, such as heel-and-toe shifting, and rapid adaptation to American racing have forced even seasoned drivers to reevaluate their own skills. Kyle Busch’s open recognition of SVG’s prowess is just the latest sign that new standards are being set on circuits like these. As the race at Sonoma approaches, both fans and competitors eagerly anticipate whether SVG can convert pole position into yet another victory, adding further momentum to his already impressive NASCAR career.
