Shane van Gisbergen Watkins Glen 2024 is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for the three-time Supercars champion as he prepares to return to the scene of last year’s near miss in the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen. After a string of dominant performances on road and street courses this year, van Gisbergen is determined to correct the costly mistake that kept him from victory just one year ago.
Recent Performances and Watkins Glen’s Painful Memory
Following a strong result with a sixth-place finish at COTA, van Gisbergen has been on an impressive run, taking the checkered flag at the inaugural race in Mexico City, dictating the pace for most of the laps at Sonoma Raceway, and securing a sweep at the Chicago Street Course weekend. However, it’s the dramatic ending at Watkins Glen last September that continues to drive his hunger for redemption. SVG was in command late in that race, having overtaken Chris Buescher on the restart, only to falter with a misstep at the bus stop on the final lap. The small error allowed Buescher—representing RFK Racing—a chance to make a decisive pass in the carousel, resulting in contact that led van Gisbergen to struggle in reclaiming the lead without spinning out.
In the closing moments, Buescher seized the win, leaving van Gisbergen to process the sting of a runner-up finish and the haunting reality of how close he came to triumph. With the return to Watkins Glen on the schedule, the memory of that lost opportunity still resonates strongly for the driver and his supporters.
Carrying Frustration and Motivation Into 2024
Reflecting on his painful Watkins Glen experience, van Gisbergen has made his feelings clear:
“I still get frustrated thinking about that race,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
The emotional weight of the loss hasn’t diminished over time. He explained,
“When I make a personal mistake like that, it makes me angry to think that I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was, and we had the fastest car all day, then to do that. I really want to get there this weekend, make no mistakes, have a fast car and try an execute all day. Which we have been doing on the road courses, and it will be good to continue doing that.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Van Gisbergen’s journey in the NASCAR Cup Series has seen steady progress, especially on ovals where experience was initially limited. Still, his greatest prowess and dominance this season have come on road courses, reinforcing his reputation despite his dramatic debut win at Chicago in 2023. The No. 88 car’s consistent success at these tracks has underscored both the team‘s and van Gisbergen’s growing confidence, with his Mexico City victory standing out as the largest margin of victory in a NASCAR race since 2008.
Learning, Adapting, and Chasing the Top Spot
The transformation in SVG’s performance, particularly his ability to extract speed on a diverse array of layouts, is not simply due to raw skill. It’s a product of learning, adaptation, and teamwork. He elaborated on this improvement:
“I think it’s just been time on the road courses, learning what we want from the car, changing our philosophy,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
He continued, revealing the source of their improved competitiveness:
“We’ve really clicked on the road course set up and made our cars a lot better. On the ovals too, we are getting better as a team.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
As the date with The Glen approaches, van Gisbergen holds not only the internal drive to erase past regrets but also a clear goal. A win on Sunday would equal Denny Hamlin’s Cup victory tally for the year, boost his playoff prospects with an extra five bonus points, and send a powerful message to rivals like Chris Buescher and teams such as RFK Racing and Niece Motorsports. The stakes are higher than ever for van Gisbergen, his team, and all who follow the unfolding drama of NASCAR’s demanding playoff chase.
What Victory Would Mean at Watkins Glen
Winning at Watkins Glen in 2024 would mark true redemption for van Gisbergen after the crushing disappointment of last year. For one of Supercars’ greatest exports, claiming the top spot at The Glen would be proof of his relentless growth and adaptation in the NASCAR arena—a challenge that continues to shape the careers of even the sport’s most decorated competitors. As Sunday draws near, all eyes are on van Gisbergen, wondering if he can finally bring closure to his lingering heartbreak and add another chapter to the remarkable story of the Cup Series’ evolving road course legacy.
