Shane van Gisbergen, the New Zealand driver for Trackhouse Racing, faces a pivotal moment in his rookie NASCAR Cup season with Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway. While seven races will follow, his Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR playoff hopes may hang in the balance, as he sits 14th in the standings and must deliver a top performance to avoid early elimination.
Van Gisbergen’s playoff campaign started with promise after securing his spot thanks to four road-course victories. Since the playoffs began, however, he has struggled with a 32nd-place finish at Darlington and a 25th at Gateway, which now leaves him 16 points behind Austin Cindric, who currently holds the final advancement spot in 12th place.
Must-Win Scenario Shapes Bristol Strategy
The pressure of Bristol’s high-stakes race is clear, with Van Gisbergen requiring perhaps the best oval result of his career to advance. Despite the tension, Van Gisbergen shared his approach during media availability at the track:
“Just to try and be level-headed about it,”
—Van Gisbergen
He elaborated about not letting the pressure affect his routine:
“So, yeah, I think we’ve just been pretty level-headed and tried to just approach it like we have been.”
—Van Gisbergen
This marks Van Gisbergen’s first full Cup Series campaign, coming off a single year in the Xfinity Series where he made the playoffs but finished last among the playoff drivers. For Bristol, his challenge is steep, as his best oval finishes this season have both been 14th—at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 and at Richmond. All other oval outings have ended 20th or worse, apart from his victories and a few mid-pack runs on road courses.
Richmond gives him a hint of optimism for Bristol, as both are ovals, though Bristol’s steep banking and tough passing conditions add to the complexity. Adding more urgency is his prior experience at Bristol, where suspension failure ended his night early, resulting in a disappointing 38th place—the lowest mark of his 2024 season.
Road Course Success vs. Oval Struggles
While Van Gisbergen has been dominant on road courses, with four wins and a sixth-place in Austin, his oval racecraft remains a work in progress. Despite the difficulties, he maintains a positive outlook on his development:
“I think it’s been awesome, it’s been a lot of fun,”
—Van Gisbergen
He reflected further on progress made throughout the season:
“I think we can be proud of that and I think we’re still getting better most weeks too. So yeah, pretty happy with how it’s ended up.”
—Van Gisbergen
This optimism is notable given recent setbacks—at Gateway, for instance, he was poised for improvement until self-inflicted mistakes cost him a stronger finish. He described his missteps candidly:
“I didn’t do very well last week,”
—Van Gisbergen
He assessed his responsibility for those results:
“So, last week (there was) only myself to blame. So, (I) beat myself up for a couple days and reset, try again tomorrow.”
—Van Gisbergen
Unpredictable Bristol Awaits
Bristol is widely considered one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks due to its steep banks and frequent multicar incidents, adding an additional layer of challenge. Van Gisbergen spoke honestly about his difficulty adapting to the venue:
“This place is not like anything else in the world I’ve ever done. So, yeah, just every time I come here, I get better and better, and I just need more experience here.”
—Van Gisbergen
While his best performances have come on road courses, Van Gisbergen’s steady mindset and continual improvement on ovals provide some hope for a breakthrough, even as the odds remain stacked against him.
What’s at Stake Moving Forward
As Saturday’s Bristol showdown draws near, Van Gisbergen must find speed and composure if he is to extend his rookie Cup playoff run. His transparency about past challenges, combined with visible gains in pace and qualifying, affirm he is adapting quickly at NASCAR’s highest level. Whether he manages to advance to the Round of 12 or not, Van Gisbergen has already demonstrated he belongs among the top drivers, and his experiences at complex venues like Bristol and Gateway seem likely to serve him in future seasons. The race at Bristol will not only determine his current playoff fate, but also provide valuable lessons as he continues to develop as a Cup Series contender.
