Shane van Gisbergen’s latest display at Watkins Glen International has once again ignited debate among NASCAR fans. His 11-second victory over Christopher Bell not only marked his fourth straight road course triumph but also tied Chase Elliott for the second-longest such streak in Cup Series history. While some fans celebrate his dominance, others question its broader implications for the sport, particularly on road courses where the New Zealand driver has made winning look routine. The discussion has only intensified as the playoffs loom.
Key Highlights
Shane van Gisbergen scores fourth straight Cup Series road course win
Victory margin of 11.116 seconds over Christopher Bell
Ties Chase Elliott for second-longest road course win streak; record held by Jeff Gordon
Ryan Blaney leads 35 laps but finishes sixth
Playoff spots tighten with two regular-season races remaining
Divided Opinions Among NASCAR Fans
The fanbase has not been shy about voicing its mixed reactions to van Gisbergen’s performance. For some, his mastery highlights a growing skill gap on road courses among NASCAR’s regulars.
“At what point does SVG’s success switch from a discussion about his talent to a discussion about the lack of talent of NASCAR racers on RCs? I actually think his dominance is getting bad for optics.” – Fan reaction
Others quickly countered that view.
“Lack of talent? Plenty of NASCAR racers are good at road courses, even if they don’t come up with the win.” – Fan reaction
The discussion also touched on the fact that van Gisbergen is not from the United States, which some believe plays a role in how vocal certain segments of fans can be.
“Yes but they were homegrown racers. I think that SVG not being from the US is part of the problem with some fans and they are usually the most vocal.” – Fan reaction
Respect for the Craft
Not all voices in the conversation have been critical. Many fans praised the skill required to deliver such a dominant performance at Watkins Glen.
“Can’t hate on SVG – that was awesome. But NBC either blew it or there was barely any natural passing beyond the restart laps.” – Fan reaction
For some, the level of control he demonstrates seems to only be increasing.
“Is it just me, or is SVG getting even more dominant at road courses? He seems to be increasing his gap with every race win.” – Fan reaction
Even with his recent success, others remind that he’s still adapting to the NASCAR Cup Series.
“Shane van Gisbergen is very much still adjusting to the car and series. That should probably worry people in the garage.” – Fan reaction
A Legacy in the Making
Van Gisbergen’s path to this point has been defined by road course excellence. Comparisons to his Supercars career show a driver who has honed his craft on challenging circuits worldwide.
“Go watch some of his Supercars races, even going back to when he was with Ford. The guy is absolutely amazing and spent his entire career on street and road circuits.” – Fan reaction
At Watkins Glen, he led a race-high 38 laps, becoming only the second driver after Dan Gurney to win his first five NASCAR Cup Series races exclusively on road courses. His four victories this year — at Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and now Watkins Glen — also tie him with Denny Hamlin for most wins this season. The feat comes in his rookie year, breaking the record for most rookie wins. His dominance shows no signs of slowing, and with a multiyear extension at Trackhouse Racing confirmed, fans will have plenty more opportunities to react.
News in Brief: NASCAR Fan Debate After 2025 Watkins Glen
Shane van Gisbergen delivered his fourth straight NASCAR Cup Series road course victory at Watkins Glen, winning by 11.116 seconds over Christopher Bell. The No. 88 Trackhouse Racing driver led 38 laps, tying Chase Elliott for second-most consecutive road course wins in series history. Reactions from fans ranged from praising his skill to questioning the competitive balance on road courses. With wins in Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen, SVG now shares the season victory lead with Denny Hamlin.
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