Shane van Gisbergen’s exceptional NASCAR performance has shifted expectations for Supercars drivers entering the Cup Series, making “Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR impact” a talking point across the paddock. His remarkable rookie season and the challenges faced by his peers have underscored the Kiwi driver’s rare achievement, while competitors and teammates alike acknowledge the new benchmark he has established for international talent.
Shane van Gisbergen’s Breakout Year Raises the Bar
Veteran driver AJ Allmendinger, reflecting on his experience with van Gisbergen as teammates at Kaulig Racing, spoke candidly about the influence SVG has had on perceptions of Supercars drivers pursuing futures in NASCAR. Van Gisbergen, also known as SVG, has achieved major milestones during his rookie Cup Series campaign, piloting Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 car. He secured four victories this year, claiming the second-most wins in the field, all on road courses. These results have motivated other Supercars stars, including Will Brown, Cam Waters, and Jack Perkins, to consider competing in stock cars.
However, Allmendinger emphasized that following in van Gisbergen’s footsteps is far from straightforward. Speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, he remarked:
“The dude is all world, right? You go win three championships over there. I was joking with him… I was like, ‘You’ve really screwed all these Australian guys and New Zealand guys trying to come over.’ And he’s like, ‘What do you mean?’ And I’m like, ‘Because, they just look at you and go, oh, I mean, he’s smoking everybody. I mean, I’m sure we can come over there in the road courses and do it.'” – AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
Allmendinger further commented that van Gisbergen’s dominance has led to unfairly high expectations for other stars arriving from Supercars.
“I’m like, they don’t realize like the reason they’re winning races now is because you got tired of kicking their a*s. And now you want to come over and abuse us. So, they come over and like they’re good but they’re not amazing. And so I’m like yeah you you’ve screwed that whole series and country. Good job man.” – AJ Allmendinger, NASCAR driver
The transition van Gisbergen made is distinct. After three Supercars championships, he joined NASCAR through Trackhouse Racing’s developmental initiative, sharing Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 ride with Allmendinger during the 2024 season. While van Gisbergen made only 12 starts to Allmendinger’s 16, his performances were immediately impactful, particularly on road courses.
In his debut full-time season with Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 Chevrolet, van Gisbergen has captured three pole positions and six top-10 finishes, five of which came on road courses. Among his victories are those at Mexico City, Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and Chicago, consistently surpassing the results of other international entrants.
Other Supercars drivers such as Will Brown and Jack Perkins have encountered difficulties finding similar success. Brown finished 31st in his Cup Series debut at Sonoma in 2024, while Perkins placed 32nd during the Xfinity race in Chicago. Even Marcos Ambrose, once a Supercars ace, saw little impact in the Truck Series, contrasting sharply with van Gisbergen’s debut win at Chicago in 2023. These comparisons, according to Allmendinger, only underline how exceptional van Gisbergen’s transition has been and how challenging it is for others to follow his path.
Progress on Ovals Adds to SVG’s Reputation
While van Gisbergen’s skill on road courses was never in doubt, his rapid adaptation to oval racing has captured considerable attention in NASCAR circles. Until the Kansas event, his best oval performance in the Cup Series was a 12th-place run at Martinsville with Kaulig Racing in 2024. With Trackhouse Racing this season, he logged 14th-place finishes at both Charlotte and Richmond, continuing to gain experience against a competitive field.
Kansas marked a significant milestone, as van Gisbergen fought through adversity to claim his first career top-10 finish on an oval. The race was complicated by the absence of his regular crew chief, Stephen Doran, who was excluded after unapproved modifications were discovered on the No. 88 car. Interim crew chief Chais Eliason stepped in, but van Gisbergen still began the race with a stop-and-go penalty, leaving him a lap behind early.
Defying these setbacks, van Gisbergen recovered after the second stage to regain his position on the lead lap. Capitalizing on multiple overtime restarts, he advanced through the pack, ultimately finishing in tenth place, ahead of teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez.
It’s really cool to get a top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. I feel like we’re getting better and better at these tracks. It was difficult starting a lap down and having that penalty, but Chais Eliason did a great job. We had really good speed at points of the race, so I’m stoked to get a top-10. I’m over the moon with that,” van Gisbergen told NBC.
While Allmendinger failed to finish the event, van Gisbergen’s performance at Kansas represented both progress and adaptability. Despite being eliminated in the Round of 16, van Gisbergen holds 14th in the championship standings with 2086 points, with the chance to improve to 13th in the coming weeks.
Anticipation Builds for the Next Road Course Challenge
Shane van Gisbergen’s next challenge is the Charlotte ROVAL, where he previously secured pole position and finished seventh in 2024. As he returns to a familiar track with more oval experience and no playoff pressures, he is considered a strong contender to influence the playoff dynamics.
Van Gisbergen’s unprecedented rookie achievements have made him a key figure in conversations about international talent in NASCAR, inspiring interest from drivers abroad and changing the metrics by which new arrivals are judged. His ongoing success with Trackhouse Racing, alongside teammates such as Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, and the support from crew chiefs like Stephen Doran and Chais Eliason, represents a new era for Supercars alumni in the United States’ premier stock car series. As the NASCAR season progresses, observers and competitors alike will be watching to see how Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR impact continues to shape expectations for aspiring drivers from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond.
