Shane van Gisbergen road course expertise comes into sharp focus this weekend as he prepares for the challenging Charlotte Roval, a venue that even he admits tests a driver in unique ways. As Trackhouse Racing faces the critical Round of 12 cutoff, van Gisbergen pointed out that the Roval’s curbs are the defining element, requiring precision and skill unlike any other track on the NASCAR schedule.
Unique Features Make Charlotte Roval Stand Out
The Charlotte Roval marks the final chance for 10 playoff drivers to secure one of six remaining spots in the Round of 8. Notably, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Austin Cindric are all below the cutline and need a win to keep their championship hopes alive. The course consists of a hybrid design, blending the speed of oval banking with 17 intricate corners, and acts as the culmination of NASCAR’s six-race road and street course set for the season.
Shane van Gisbergen, widely acknowledged for his skills on road circuits, elaborated during the pre-race press conference on how the Roval differs from other circuits. He emphasized the importance of the curbs, noting how critical managing them is to maintaining control and speed throughout a lap.
“I don’t think it does. It’s got similar parts of everywhere to tracks we’ve had. I think it’s a pretty good combination of slow and high-speed corners. Probably the only thing here is the curbs. You got to have good recovery over the curbs and how quick the car settles down. That’s probably the unique thing from other tracks.” — Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver
The curbs have long testing drivers’ nerve at Charlotte. Pushing too hard can launch a car wide, while being too conservative can mean valuable fractions of a second lost, a margin that can decide playoff fates. Notably, the Roval’s configuration—featuring a heavy-braking hairpin at Turn 7, an off-camber Turn 6, and chicanes on both main straights—adds to the unpredictable and often chaotic racing environment.
Van Gisbergen also acknowledged that the oval portion of the circuit presents its own dangers, especially at higher speeds early in a run.
“The oval part is only a little dodgy at turn four when you’re at full speed. It’s on the ground and on the rub blocks. It’s pretty loose the first couple of laps till they wear away. But yeah, it’s a pretty cool little track.” — Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver
This weekend’s Truck and Xfinity races provided a reminder of how intense things can get. On Friday, the Truck Series saw 12 cautions and a substantial crash in Turn 1. The following day, the Xfinity Series race extended into overtime with 13 different cautions and finished under yellow. With this pattern, even a champion road racer like van Gisbergen will need to stay alert to avoid getting caught up in the mayhem on Sunday.
Van Gisbergen’s Success Highlights His Road Course Authority
Despite the hazards of the Roval, Shane van Gisbergen enters the weekend with a remarkable record, boasting wins at four out of five Cup road races this season—including Mexico City, Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen—and a top-six finish at COTA. His dominance has been clear, with particularly commanding victories in Mexico and at the Glen, setting him apart as NASCAR’s leading authority on road courses in 2025.
While his confidence is unmistakable, van Gisbergen was quick to play down the relative challenge presented by the Charlotte track, referencing his experience on even more demanding circuits.
“Have you seen Chicago? (laughs) This is nothing compared to that and some other street tracks I’ve been to. So, this is a pretty smooth track,” he added [5:45 onwards]. — Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver
NASCAR teams are also making technical adjustments for the weekend, with the Next Gen cars receiving additional front downforce tweaks. This is expected to provide extra stability during braking and facilitate better handling over the course’s bumpy chicanes—factors that could play to van Gisbergen’s strengths as a road course expert.
Qualifying Drama Sets the Stage for the Roval
Van Gisbergen confirmed his authority by grabbing a front-row starting spot in Saturday’s qualifying, further cementing his status as this season’s standout road course competitor. However, Saturday’s session also showed that the field is competitive. Tyler Reddick, fighting a deficit of 29 points, narrowly claimed pole over van Gisbergen, setting a lap of 1:25.939 at 95.510 mph, ahead by just 0.032 seconds. AJ Allmendinger, another past Roval winner, paced practice at 94.748 mph, though van Gisbergen’s ability to maintain a top 10-lap average reflected his long-run prowess.
A unique challenge for all teams has been pronounced tire wear, which has disrupted pre-race strategies and prompted a reevaluation of pit strategies. Van Gisbergen’s reputation for managing pace throughout a race could become even more advantageous, with a late surge in the standings—a finish within the top 13—still in sight.
The outcome of Sunday’s race also carries implications beyond individual performance. For Trackhouse Racing, a van Gisbergen victory could remove a rival from playoff contention, potentially aiding team-mate Ross Chastain’s own quest for advancement, as he currently lags 13 points behind the cutline.
Roval Challenges Set to Define Playoff Picture
As the Charlotte Roval prepares to play host to this season’s pivotal Round of 12 cutoff, Shane van Gisbergen remains steadfast in his belief that road course mastery comes from adaptability and precise car control—qualities he has displayed race after race. However, with accidents, unpredictable cautions, and relentless competition from the likes of Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Ross Chastain, the pressure is on across the field.
Whether van Gisbergen can extend his exceptional record or faces a setback will be decided over the 2.28-mile circuit’s demanding laps. What is certain is that the Roval’s unique mix of curbs, technical turns, and playoff stakes will push every contender, including NASCAR’s current road course authority, to the very edge of their abilities.
