Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR adaptation journey took an unusual turn in 2025, as the celebrated driver worked to improve his performance on oval tracks with a bold tactic suggested by Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks. As the Rookie of the Year, van Gisbergen excelled on road courses, yet his struggle with ovals led to a notable and unexpected approach that shaped his inaugural full-time Cup Series season.
Rising to the Challenge in the Cup Series
After finishing 12th in the prior year’s Xfinity Series (currently the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series), Shane van Gisbergen earned a chance to compete in the Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing. Driving the #88 Chevrolet, the New Zealander achieved a remarkable five wins, though all came on road courses. Despite these victories, limited success on oval tracks left him again in 12th position overall in the final standings, highlighting the pronounced contrast in his performance depending on the type of circuit.
Gisbergen’s background was firmly rooted in the Supercars Championship, where he raced between 2008 and 2023. The transition to NASCAR’s unique oval racing format exposed a steep learning curve. While consistently competitive on road circuits, he tended to finish mid-pack on ovals, an issue that persisted throughout 2025.
Justin Marks’ Unconventional Advice for Overcoming Oval Struggles
Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks observed van Gisbergen’s hesitance and suggested a strategy far removed from conservative driving. Justin Marks recognized that his driver’s cautious style, especially during qualifying on ovals, was an obstacle preventing higher starting positions. To tackle this, Marks instructed van Gisbergen to take a more fearless approach, particularly in high-speed corners, even at the risk of a crash.
Justin said, he’s like I was the same in ARCA. You just got to send it in there and the thing will stick and spin out. He’s like he’s fully expected me to junk cars all last year,
Shane van Gisbergen explained on the Dinner with Racers podcast.
Marks’ advice was to push the car to its limit, especially at tracks like Kansas. The unconventional guidance to
“go in there flat and see what happens”
encouraged van Gisbergen to override his instincts honed in Supercars, where lifting off the throttle in corners is standard. For van Gisbergen, the psychological hurdle was as significant as the technical one; going full throttle through oval corners contradicted years of muscle memory.
I didn’t crash that much but I qualified bad and built up during the race. He basically told me, Kansas just go in there flat and see what happens. I did qualify decent there at Kansas. I did it flat, and my brain was undoing my foot just come up,
van Gisbergen continued.
This risky method began to pay off, as seen by improved qualifying performances late in the season. Still, adapting to NASCAR ovals involved more than simply adopting a new driving style—it required a complete shift in racing philosophy.
The Complexities of Adapting to NASCAR Ovals
For drivers like Shane van Gisbergen, the transition from road courses to oval tracks is notoriously challenging. Road courses require aggressive braking and precise cornering, features that are largely absent on ovals. Drivers with a background in international touring cars, such as van Gisbergen, often struggle because the skillset and instincts built over years do not translate directly.
In road racing, heavy braking zones offer the main opportunities to gain time and make overtakes. On ovals, these opportunities are replaced by long, high-speed sweeping turns that demand confidence to keep the throttle pinned. For van Gisbergen, trained to lift off in corners, the act of staying flat was deeply unnatural and counterintuitive.
Furthermore, race strategy differs widely. While road courses may reward aggressive overtaking and late braking, success on ovals hinges on tire management and adapting to aerodynamic influences such as the “dirty air” from other cars. On ovals, this aerodynamic disturbance dominates, complicating efforts to overtake and requiring a different form of racecraft entirely.
Van Gisbergen’s adaptation also meant unlearning habits that once made him successful. Moving from being a frontrunner in Supercars to finding mid-pack results on ovals was both a technical and mental battle. However, his willingness to listen to advice and try unorthodox solutions enabled him to make strides throughout his debut full-time Cup season.
Looking Ahead: Progress, Consistency, and Future Aspirations
By season’s end, Shane van Gisbergen had demonstrated that an open mind and the courage to attempt unfamiliar tactics can yield tangible benefits. While his victories remained locked to road courses, his qualifying pace and growing comfort on ovals suggested that Marks’ aggressive recommendation was helping to close the gap. The relationship between driver and team, marked by trust even when mistakes or crashes seemed inevitable, became a crucial factor in his ongoing development.
Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR adaptation is a work in progress, but his Rookie of the Year campaign underlined just how formidable a road course specialist can become if given the time and room to learn. As he continues to incorporate Marks’ directive—and as the 2026 season approaches—the racing community will watch to see if he can secure a long-awaited oval victory, cementing his reputation as a truly versatile competitor.
