Shane van Gisbergen secured a milestone at Watkins Glen International by claiming his fourth consecutive road course victory, underlining his dominance in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. This Shane van Gisbergen Watkins Glen victory also marked his fifth career Cup win, just as the NASCAR playoffs approach, and etched his name in the record books as the rookie driver with the most single-season wins.
Breaking Records With Consistent Wins
On Sunday at Watkins Glen, van Gisbergen, hailing from New Zealand, piloted the No. 88 for Trackhouse Racing to yet another triumph on a road course. This marked his fourth straight road course win this season, tying him with Denny Hamlin for the most Cup victories of the year. With this performance, he surpassed the previous rookie win record, which was once held by Tony Stewart and later matched by Jimmie Johnson. Both Stewart and Johnson had accomplished their rookie victories on a mix of different tracks, while van Gisbergen’s record comes exclusively from road courses.
Team chemistry and detailed preparation have been cited as key factors in van Gisbergen’s impressive rookie run. As the playoffs loom, van Gisbergen’s results not only boost his playoff standings but also solidify Trackhouse Racing’s growing reputation in NASCAR’s elite ranks. Throughout the season, his partnership with the team has gone from strength to strength, benefitting from support and belief from leadership, including team owner Justin Marks and crew chief Stephen Doran.
Historic Season Continues at Watkins Glen
Van Gisbergen reflected on his achievement at Watkins Glen with emotion, describing how much it means for both him and the team to see their hard work pay off week after week. He began his winning streak at Autodromos Hermanos Rodriguez, followed by consecutive victories at the Chicago street course—where he won his Cup debut—and Sonoma Raceway. His success at Sonoma recently made him the most successful foreign-born driver in Cup Series history, and his latest win at The Glen not only provided redemption after last year’s near-miss but also established him as the most victorious rookie in the series.
The only road course that eluded van Gisbergen and the No. 88 team this season was Circuit of the Americas, where he finished a strong sixth. Nevertheless, his performance across the season’s road course schedule has transformed Trackhouse Racing’s campaign and elevated van Gisbergen’s profile among Cup Series rookies past and present. Stewart had set the rookie wins record in 1999, and Johnson matched it in 2002. Now, van Gisbergen stands above both.
Stephen Doran commented on the team’s quest to sweep all road courses, noting how close they came, while Marks highlighted the reasons behind placing van Gisbergen in the car and the impact of his resilient execution in high-pressure scenarios. The win also comes shortly after van Gisbergen signed a multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing, reinforcing the mutual commitment between driver and team. Van Gisbergen shared his feelings in the team’s news release, expressing gratitude for what Trackhouse has become for him and acknowledging the bigger journey from his days as a PROJECT91 one-off to becoming a record-breaking rookie.
That’s why Justin believed in me. He knew I could do this. I changed my life to come and do this. To come and make true of what everyone believed in me, and to execute myself and get everything right? It’s why I go racing.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Reflecting on his season so far, van Gisbergen admitted that the magnitude of his accomplishments would likely take time to sink in, often finding himself introspective once the excitement settles.
I’ll try not to tweet at 4 a.m. tonight.
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Even amidst humor, van Gisbergen remains mindful of the significance of his run in NASCAR, emphasizing moments of reflection to truly appreciate his success.
A Multiyear Contract and Bright Outlook
The timing of van Gisbergen’s historic run is notable, as he recently secured a multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing just before the Watkins Glen event began. This extension ensures both parties can continue their pursuit of greater achievements as the season continues, including the possibility of becoming the first driver to win five consecutive road course races, with the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL still ahead on the 2025 schedule.
But a pretty cool challenge, and I think it races well. … That’ll be a good one for us if we make it to the second round [of the Cup Series playoffs].
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Looking towards future races, focus also shifts to van Gisbergen’s potential on oval tracks, where further improvements are highly anticipated, according to crew chief Stephen Doran. Doran noted that van Gisbergen’s adaptability and rapid learning curve have already yielded promising results at venues like Darlington Raceway, and expectations remain high for subsequent visits to tracks such as Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
He’s such a quick learner. You look at some of these places like Darlington [Raceway], he was honestly a top-10 car. … Some of these others will be a lot better than the first time around.
—Stephen Doran, Crew Chief
As the playoffs approach, van Gisbergen and the team are poised to capitalize on this season’s momentum and further rewrite rookie records. His contribution to Trackhouse Racing’s growing prominence in the Cup Series, alongside the supportive leadership of Justin Marks, is setting a new benchmark for incoming international drivers in NASCAR.
Significance of the Achievement and Next Steps
Shane van Gisbergen’s Watkins Glen victory is more than another race win. It cements his legacy as the most successful rookie in NASCAR Cup Series history and demonstrates the global appeal and increasing competitiveness of the sport. Trackhouse Racing’s faith in van Gisbergen continues to yield results, with supportive teammates and management pushing boundaries in a field increasingly shaped by international talents.
As van Gisbergen, the first rookie to win four road course races in succession, aims to extend this record at the Charlotte ROVAL and look towards his first oval victory, the team and fans alike will watch for even more breakthrough moments. For now, the focus remains on preparing for the playoffs, where every win strengthens van Gisbergen’s standing and reinforces the international momentum he brings to NASCAR’s highest level.
