Shane van Gisbergen reached a significant milestone in the world of stock car racing, earning his first top-10 finish on a NASCAR Cup Series oval at Kansas Speedway during the Hollywood Casino 400, drawing the attention and praise of legendary figure Mark Martin. The achievement marks a vital step in van Gisbergen’s transition to oval tracks, and strengthens his standing among NASCAR’s rising talents as he overcomes adversity to make his mark in the series.
Breakthrough at Kansas Speedway After Early Setbacks
Van Gisbergen started the Hollywood Casino 400 from the rear of the field following a post-inspection penalty, and had to serve a stop-and-go penalty on the opening lap, challenging his attempt to move up the leaderboard. Despite these hurdles, including the removal of his regular crew chief Stephen Doran and the guidance of interim crew chief Chais Eliason, van Gisbergen drove his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing entry to a 10th-place finish, missing out on the win by just 1.288 seconds behind Chase Elliott. The New Zealand driver’s result was praised by Hall of Famer Mark Martin, who simply stated:
“Impressive.”
— Mark Martin, Hall of Famer
Van Gisbergen marked the occasion with an enthusiastic message on X, acknowledging the challenges faced throughout the race. He highlighted the determination of the entire team and recognized Eliason’s pivotal role as interim crew chief:
“P10 at Kansas Speedway in our @redbullmotors #88! 😀 Was difficult starting a lap down, without our crew chief and having that penalty, but Chais our interim crew chief did a great job! We had really good speed in the race, so I’m stoked to get a top 10, thanks @TeamTrackhouse!”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Driver
Notable Progress in Oval Performance This Season
Throughout his rookie season in NASCAR, van Gisbergen built a reputation as a strong road course competitor, having secured multiple wins on both road and street circuits while racing for Trackhouse Racing. However, adapting to ovals presented a steeper learning curve, and prior to Kansas, his best oval result was 14th at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Last fall, he managed a 12th-place finish at the Martinsville 0.5-mile oval, but struggled in this year’s NASCAR playoffs, failing to crack the top-25 in the initial trio of playoff oval events.
Despite missing out on advancement after the Round of 16 due to those struggles, this latest 10th-place finish in Kansas marks a turning point for the New Zealander and demonstrates his adaptability and determination within a highly competitive field. The NASCAR pit road community and Trackhouse organization are likely to watch his continued growth with keen interest following this breakthrough achievement.
Focus Shifts to Charlotte Roval After Strong Debut
With a boost in confidence from his Kansas performance, van Gisbergen is setting his sights on another opportunity for victory at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, a hybrid circuit where he previously showed strong pace. As a three-time Supercars champion, he impressed in his Roval debut last year, claiming pole position and leading 21 early laps. However, an on-track incident with Carson Hocevar at the hairpin forced him to drop deep into the field. Despite this setback, van Gisbergen displayed resilience—fighting from 23rd to seventh over the final laps, overcoming a late-race pit stop and navigating through hectic mid-field battles to finish within the top 10.
This season, he sits 14th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, just five points shy of Alex Bowman, as the Bank of America ROVAL 400 approaches on Sunday, October 5. Van Gisbergen has already registered four road or street course victories in his rookie campaign, and a return to the Roval represents a prime chance to add another highlight result, especially after coming close last year.
Significance of the Milestone for Shane van Gisbergen and NASCAR
Shane van Gisbergen’s top-10 result at Kansas Speedway stands as a testament to perseverance and skill as he transitions to American stock car racing. It signals not only personal growth, but also a broadening of international talent in the NASCAR Cup Series. The recognition from a Hall of Famer such as Mark Martin underscores the achievement’s impact within the motorsports community. As van Gisbergen continues to improve, his journey inspires both his fans in New Zealand and NASCAR’s wider global audience, hinting at a compelling storyline in future races on both ovals and road courses.
Impressive @shanevg97 https://t.co/Zbu6uhfUgU
— Mark Martin (@markmartin) September 29, 2025
