Shane van Gisbergen road course dominance was on full display during the recent Watkins Glen race, where he pulled off a commanding victory, beating Christopher Bell by over 11 seconds and making a strong statement in the NASCAR Cup Series. Van Gisbergen’s relentless pace and expert driving added to his growing legacy as one of the series’ premier road racers.
Van Gisbergen Delivers Standout Performance at Watkins Glen
At Watkins Glen, van Gisbergen’s aggressive yet smooth driving, tactical race sense, careful tire management, and confidence during restarts showcased why he’s seen as an elite competitor in NASCAR road races. The Kiwi racer placed himself alongside NASCAR legends such as Chase Elliott, Jeff Gordon, and Dan Gurney, becoming one of only a handful to claim four consecutive Cup Series victories on street or road tracks. His mastery of racecraft, combined with his winning record, places him at the forefront whenever a road course is on the schedule.
Complementing SVG’s victory, William Byron demonstrated speed as the second-fastest driver on track, finishing fourth behind Chris Buescher in third. The race solidified van Gisbergen’s reputation, but also highlighted the competitiveness of drivers like Byron and Bell.
“SVG was 1.7 seconds faster than CBell on the last lap Byron was second fastest.”
—BrakeHard
Road Course Achievements Reach New Heights
Despite being a relatively recent addition to the NASCAR field with only 37 Cup Series appearances, van Gisbergen has already become a fixture in the road racing record books. He currently claims five road course wins—two from Chicago, and single wins in Mexico City, Sonoma Raceway, and most recently, Watkins Glen. Before joining NASCAR, van Gisbergen had amassed 80 victories and three championships in the Australian and New Zealand Supercars, demonstrating his skill globally.
He now approaches the all-time record for NASCAR road course wins, held by Jeff Gordon with nine victories. Along this path, van Gisbergen is compared to icons such as Rusty Wallace, Kyle Larson, Ricky Ruud, Bobby Allison (each with six wins), Chase Elliott (seven), and Tony Stewart (eight). Jeff Gordon’s record of six consecutive road course wins from 1997 to 2000 remains the benchmark, but van Gisbergen’s recent streak of multiple road course victories positions him as a credible challenger to that standard.
Impact on NASCAR and What Lies Ahead
With key triumphs in Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma Raceway, and Watkins Glen, Shane van Gisbergen has established himself as a master on tracks that reward skill and precision. His ability to create large winning margins and collect road course playoff points makes him a formidable presence throughout the series and sets the stage for an exciting chase towards the all-time record.
As van Gisbergen continues to add to his road course tally and inspire comparisons with figures like Jeff Gordon, Chase Elliott, and Tony Stewart, the racing world watches closely to see if he can etch his name atop the NASCAR history books. With his unmatched consistency and technical proficiency, he stands poised to become the greatest road racer the Cup Series has ever seen.
