Shane van Gisbergen, at the wheel of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, is preparing for a pivotal moment in his debut NASCAR Cup Series season as he looks to make a splash at Richmond Raceway, aiming to climb the playoff leaderboard and make a statement for both his team and international supporters. With the pressure mounting as the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs approach, van Gisbergen’s efforts at Richmond could play a crucial role in changing the dynamic among drivers on the cusp, highlighting the season’s intensity while capturing the attention of fans in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Van Gisbergen’s Progression and Adaptation in the NASCAR Cup Series
Since joining Trackhouse Racing and taking on the challenge of the NASCAR Cup Series, Shane van Gisbergen has been steadily evolving his performance, particularly as he transitions from international racing formats to the unique demands of ovals in America. His media session ahead of scheduled practice and qualifying at Richmond provided insights into his growth and developing comfort with the Cup car this season versus last year. He openly discussed the steep learning curve and the incremental progress he’s making as he gains more continuous seat time and further integrates with his crew.
“Yeah, a lot higher. It’s been good; building up throughout the year and getting better and better. Certainly, we’d go like a month between races last year, so just really driving one car mainly as a focus, and same thing every week – same crew and same people – makes a huge difference, that’s for sure.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
The consistency with car, crew, and routine has led to more confidence, as van Gisbergen no longer faces long gaps between races, allowing for deeper connections with his team and keener insights into their NASCAR operations. The rhythm of weekly competition and familiar people to work with has proven pivotal to his increasing on-track competitiveness.
Unconventional Race Preparation and Study Habits
To adapt and improve, van Gisbergen detailed a preparation process that leans heavily on video analysis rather than simulation work, allowing him to study the nuances of competitors’ performances and approach each new oval challenge with a fresh, analytical mindset. He credits this method with teaching him racecraft and track-specific tendencies of top Cup Series drivers, a crucial step for someone with vast road course experience entering NASCAR’s predominantly oval calendar.
“Yeah, a lot of video study, mainly. I try and study as many drivers as I can. Yesterday, I had the race on; watched last year’s practice, qualifying and race, and then had SMT up at the same time. That’s probably what I get more out of. I find myself sort of doing less and less sim and more video stuff. I find that sort of helping me more these days.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This analytical approach includes breaking down onboard footage and race telemetry to assess gear changes, braking characteristics, and car balance, particularly on short tracks like Richmond, where tire wear and driving technique can yield significant advantages.
Support from International Fans and Sense of Responsibility
Despite relocating to the U.S. and adapting to an entirely new racing environment, van Gisbergen continues to be followed avidly by passionate fans from Australia and New Zealand, many of whom have supported him since his Supercars days. He spoke candidly about the emotional boost and gratitude he feels for their unwavering engagement and encouragement, especially when race schedules make tuning in challenging.
“Yeah, it’s very humbling how many people have followed me over here and tune in every Monday morning and watch the races. It’ll be Sunday this weekend, so they’ll probably enjoy that a bit better. Yeah, it’s been really cool having the support. Even when it’s a bad weekend for me, I still get a lot of comments and support. So, yeah, it’s really nice.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This loyalty fuels van Gisbergen’s determination, giving added motivation to perform for those who support him regardless of results, reminding him that his journey resonates far beyond the immediate NASCAR community.
Strategic Focus on Playoff Points and Postseason Preparation
With only two more playoff points separating him from a potential top spot, van Gisbergen faces complex strategic choices at Richmond. He balances the desire to accumulate crucial points for playoff positioning while seeking performance data that will benefit the team’s postseason run. His comments underscore the importance of improving on oval tracks—his newest racing discipline—and finding positivity in progress, even when results don’t always match effort.
“Yeah, well, certainly on the ovals, it’s harder for us at the moment to get the playoff points, that’s for sure. But we’re definitely working at it and I feel like every week we’re making steps and getting better. The result at Iowa wasn’t great, but I was a lot more competitive and racing really well. Even after we had our spin, we still got into a good position before getting wrecked. So there’s lots of positives coming, and, yeah, I think we’re getting better. I feel like we are, so who knows? We can hopefully start getting further up, but, yeah, certainly not where we expected or probably where everyone thought we would be on the playoff point leaderboard, so nice way to surprise people, I guess.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This drive to outperform expectations is at the heart of van Gisbergen’s approach, creating optimism that a breakthrough could be within reach as he absorbs lessons from each race, particularly the demands and unpredictability of American ovals.
Building Team Morale and the Joy of Competition
Van Gisbergen’s mood has brightened with improving finishes and a palpable sense of optimism within the Team Trackhouse garage. Positive momentum and collective enthusiasm have invigorated the entire group, as reflected in his response regarding the general happiness flowing through the organization following strong results.
“Yeah, winning certainly helps, but I felt like I was really happy at the start of the year, but it’s hard to look happy, I guess, when you’re finishing 30th every week. But I felt like there was a lot of positives early in the year, and we’re just building and grinding. This series is a grind, especially when it’s not going well. You know, every week you’re working hard with your guys and girls to get better. So, yeah, I felt like I was still pretty happy in March, April, May before, but yeah, certainly I feel like everyone’s pretty stoked and riding on a high — not just the 88 crew, but the whole team. It’s really cool at the shop at the moment with how stoked everyone is, and I feel like we got some good momentum as a team, and we’re getting better and better with every week. So it’s really cool to be a part of it.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This positive energy within Trackhouse Racing was on full display when all three of the team‘s cars placed in the top ten during a recent Cup Series event, a significant achievement symbolizing growth and synergy among drivers and crew members alike.
Adapting to the Challenge of Oval Tracks
Transitioning from primarily road course experience, van Gisbergen has prioritized learning every aspect of oval racing, from car handling to track-specific quirks. He highlighted the value of studying successful Cup drivers like Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain and emphasized the need for hands-on experience to develop his own style, especially at tracks he’s visiting for the first time in a Cup car, such as Richmond.
“Yeah, it’s just amazing when there’s different styles, right? His style’s very unique, the way he’s mainly using a different gear and stabbing at the throttle, and it’s just techniques I’ve never come across or needed to use before. But in NASCAR, there’s so many different ways to get the car around the track fast, and I’m trying to be as open-minded as possible in changing my style, especially for a track I’ve never been to before. I probably won’t try it today in practice, but if it gets stalled out in the race or in a moment where I’ve got time to try stuff, I’ll experiment a bit. All these top guys have such subtle little differences in the way they drive, and it’s really interesting trying to pick things up because I’m sort of like a clean sheet of paper with oval driving, so trying to find a style that works for me.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This adaptation goes well beyond personal skill, as he works intensely with engineers and team members to translate feedback into tangible setup changes, learning to identify and articulate the car’s needs across both short tracks and high-speed ovals.
Short Tracks: A Place of Challenge and Growth
While van Gisbergen admits to feeling most at home and competitive on short tracks, his actual results have yet to fully reflect his speed and comfort. He sees these technical circuits as opportunities for a driver to influence tire wear, braking, and gear choice, which he believes will soon pay off as he continues to put all aspects together in races like Richmond. Notable past appearances, like a strong run at Martinsville, have highlighted his adaptation to American stock car racing even as he strives for consistency.
Lessons from Supercars: Translating Skills and Finding Mentors
Van Gisbergen openly credits friendships and mentorships for helping smooth his NASCAR transition, especially with fellow Supercar alumni. While discussions with Scott McLaughlin focused largely on adjusting to life in America, Marcus Ambrose played a key role as a racing advisor, offering invaluable guidance on the different tactics and racing attitudes demanded by stock cars on ovals.
“Marcus Ambrose is probably the guy lent on the most for just pure racing stuff out of Supercars land, I guess. Scotty was more, sort of, general living and how it is in America. But yeah, Marcus was a huge help, and if I do still need stuff this year, he’s been there for me, as well.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
This dynamic has helped van Gisbergen blend his natural racecraft with the specialized knowledge required to be competitive at the NASCAR Cup level, further promoting cross-series understanding and international interest in NASCAR.
Mastering Pit Road and Avoiding Costly Penalties
One of the more technical challenges for drivers transitioning to NASCAR is mastering pit road speed limits, a component that can make or break a race on high fall-off tracks like Richmond. Van Gisbergen described the learning curve and the discipline needed to avoid infractions, drawing comparisons to his previous series where electronic aids made pit lane speed maintenance simpler.
“Yeah, it’s difficult here, especially with the two different speeds. You’re trying to be fast on the corners and maximize. I started the year bad with trying to push that. I think I had a stupid amount of penalties, and knock on wood, I haven’t had one for a while. I’ve been behaving and conservative on my speed. That’s another part of NASCAR that’s tough — every other series I’ve been in, you press a button and hold your foot flat and it does it itself. But it’s free lap time here, especially on a high fall-off track — you’re touring through the pits quite a lot under green, so it’s worth a lot of time and that’s where these guys are good, getting in and out of pit road without getting it wrong.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
His strategies for success in this area include caution and discipline, factoring in the critical importance of pit stops in a sport where fractions of seconds can determine playoff fates and career milestones.
Crew Development and Technical Growth
The ongoing collaboration with his crew was described as a defining element in van Gisbergen’s NASCAR Cup campaign. On ovals, he admitted the process of learning the delicate balance between speed and setup is a distinct challenge. Unlike road courses, where he feels at home diagnosing problems, oval setups remain a work in progress, with each race bringing new understanding and direction for future improvements.
“On ovals, it’s just general speed. It’s just taking time learning what I need from the car and understanding the car. When we go to a road course, I can tell exactly what area the car needs speed; which part to try and focus on. On an oval, I don’t fully know yet. I can describe what the car’s doing, but I don’t have that notebook of myself, whether it’s too stiff in springs, roll bars or cross weight. I don’t know what to ask for yet. Just trying to learn every week; trying to see what the setup is and what’s different to every other week. Just trying to help my crew point the car in the right direction, whereas on a road course this year, we’ve kind of trended one way on setup, and I feel like as a team and driver combination, it’s been really good and shown it’s made us better.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
His honesty about this learning process itself highlights the technical and mental demands that international drivers face transitioning to NASCAR’s unique environment.
The Playoff Stakes: Competition Reaches a Boiling Point
With just two races left before the Cup Series playoff grid is set, tension is building among drivers and teams near the cut line. Van Gisbergen expressed both relief and respect for the desperation and storylines such moments create, reflecting on how he approaches the race dynamics knowing that others on track are fighting for their playoff survival.
“Yeah, for sure. I watched the race here last year and I can’t believe the lengths people go through to get in. It’s a desperate situation, and it means so much to get in the playoffs, so I’m certainly glad we’re not involved in it, and hopefully won’t be involved in it. But yeah, I think that’s an awesome part of this sport. It creates those storylines and that desperation to win when someone’s in that position. There’s a lot of people in the bubble and a lot of people needing a win, and hopefully that creates some good but safe racing for the next couple of weeks.”
—Shane van Gisbergen, Driver, Trackhouse Racing
His comments illustrate the high-stakes atmosphere at Richmond and Daytona, and anticipation for intense, dramatic races as the postseason nears.
Outlook and Anticipation for Richmond and Beyond
As Richmond looms, van Gisbergen stands at a critical crossroads in his rookie Cup Series season. He continues to refine his approach, sharpen his technical understanding, and channel the support of his international fanbase into results that could surprise established competitors and reward the investment from Trackhouse Racing. The coming weekends will reveal whether his perseverance and growing skill set can secure a playoff breakthrough and perhaps even alter the trajectory of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs as the field narrows and pressure intensifies for all contenders.
With drivers like Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain providing inspiration and benchmarks, and mentors such as Marcus Ambrose in his corner, Shane van Gisbergen’s Richmond campaign will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, embodying the drama, energy, and international reach of contemporary NASCAR racing.
