Shane van Gisbergen, a New Zealander with notable success in both the Xfinity and Cup Series, has opened up about the challenging nature of his Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR Cup Series transition. Despite winning races quickly since his move to the United States, Van Gisbergen revealed just how steep the learning curve has been in the upper ranks of NASCAR competition.
Van Gisbergen began his NASCAR journey two years ago and has competed in both national series with a swift impact. While his performances brought victories in both Xfinity and Cup events, he made it clear that adapting to these different competitions has presented significant hurdles.
Adapting to the Demands of the Cup Series
This season, Van Gisbergen has been racing with Trackhouse Racing, making a strong first impression in the Cup Series by securing three wins and ranking 25th in the standings. Only Denny Hamlin has more race wins so far in the current season. Overall, Van Gisbergen has accumulated four Cup Series wins to go along with his four Xfinity victories.
However, behind these achievements lies a struggle with adaptation. Van Gisbergen discussed his experiences on the Stacked Penny podcast, where he emphasized the importance of easing into the Cup Series rather than diving in immediately. He explained,
“I’m glad I did a learning year rather than jump straight into Cup, ‘cause I would have got swallowed up even more,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
He went on to stress the differences between the race cars in the two series, saying,
“But the cars (Xfinity and Cup) are chalk and cheese. It’s so different.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
The Challenge of Handling Cup Cars
Van Gisbergen provided insight into the contrasts between Xfinity and Cup vehicles, particularly spotlighting the aggressiveness required and the consequences of mistakes in the premier series. He pointed out,
“How you place the car, how you race it is just so different. Like you hang out in an Xfinity car, you can upset the guy in front of you, and if you got a bit of an aero wash, you can hang out to the right, and it’s not too bad. You know, it kind of helps you turn,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Drawing from his championship-winning history in Supercars, Van Gisbergen described the much higher risk present in the Cup Series, especially during close racing. He explained,
“Whereas if you hang out to the right in a Cup car, you’re having a big crash. It’s like a little death zone. So, like how the cars behave when you’re beside each other, it’s almost opposite.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Ongoing Learning and Looking Forward
Despite all his efforts and a year of competing in the Cup Series, Van Gisbergen admitted that mastering it remains an ongoing process. He shared,
“So everything I learned last year, I had to start again. And the way the car reacts on new tires….it’s like I’ve started again. So, it’s a big learning process again,”
—Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Driver
Van Gisbergen’s honesty about the differences between the Xfinity and Cup Series, and the struggles he continues to encounter, highlights just how demanding the transition can be even for seasoned champions. His story echoes the sentiment that the path to success at the highest levels of NASCAR is paved with relentless adaptation and resilience. With names like Denny Hamlin still leading the pack, Van Gisbergen’s ongoing pursuit to master the Cup Series will be closely watched as the season unfolds.
