NASCAR’s decision to bring back the Chase playoff format has sparked significant commentary, with Shane van Gisbergen offering a passionate take during a recent scrum interview. As the revised structure changes how drivers qualify for postseason competition, van Gisbergen’s NASCAR reaction highlights both personal impact and a wider shift in the sport’s landscape.
How the Chase Format Impacts Cup Series Drivers Like van Gisbergen
Under the previous “win-and-you’re-in” rules, winning a single event could clinch a driver’s playoff spot even if their overall consistency on ovals was lacking. This worked to the advantage of drivers such as Shane van Gisbergen, whose skill set included road-course expertise. With the Chase returning, that easier path to the postseason has been removed, prompting van Gisbergen and others to reassess their approach.
Van Gisbergen openly acknowledged the role the now-replaced format played in his own Cup Series entry. Speaking to the change, he stated,
I think it kind of needed a change, yeah. But it’s hard for me. Like the reason I’m in the series is because of win and you’re in, right?
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
The New Zealander emphasized that his pathway into NASCAR’s top division was possible precisely because of this rule, which allowed talented newcomers to break in by excelling at select events rather than mastering an entire season of oval tracks. Nonetheless, he has since dedicated himself to developing oval racing skills, which has become increasingly crucial under the Chase system.
Adapting to the Demands of the Revised NASCAR Playoffs
Reflecting on his progress, van Gisbergen expressed confidence in his growing abilities on traditional NASCAR tracks.
“But I feel like I’ve gotten better at ovals to the point where I don’t have to rely on it. But, yeah, it’s certainly going to be an achievement to make that top 16. But I think it’s a good target for us and something that is achievable.”
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
For van Gisbergen, making the top 16 in points is now the task at hand, set against a field that rewards year-long consistency and repeated victories. He observed how the format now heavily favors drivers considered dominant throughout the season:
I think it rewards those top guys now that are always winning, and they were the guys calling for it, I guess. But, yeah, for me that’s more of a pure racing championship, so probably a good thing in that regard,
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
He recognized that the modified playoff formula serves the interests of those who regularly perform at the highest level, suggesting that this return to a points-driven championship restores a sense of purity to NASCAR’s title chase. His public remarks echo his internal debate, torn between past advantages and the merits of the new structure:
It’s hard for me because the reason I’m in this series is because of win and you’re in.
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
From Road-Course Specialist to Consistent Oval Competitor
Much of van Gisbergen’s first Cup Series season was a study in transition. Early 2025 saw him grappling with the demands of NASCAR’s ovals, often finishing outside the top thirty. Through continued exposure and effort, however, his results steadily improved, marking progress that he openly credited to heightened comfort and experience on the American tracks. As he described,
Just the knowledge. Like I’m going to all these places for the second, third, fourth time, and I felt so much more comfortable at the end of last year.
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
The statistics bear out his evolution. After a rocky start, van Gisbergen climbed to consistent top-20 finishes. Scoring his first Cup Series oval top-10 in Kansas, he went on to finish 14th at both Martinsville and Charlotte, and narrowly missed a top-10 at Talladega Superspeedway by finishing 11th. Further improvement was seen at Michigan, where he rose from 26th to 18th in the FireKeepers Casino 400, marking his third top-20 finish across four recent oval starts at that time.
Recalling the challenges of the opening months, he added,
And I think I read that we would have been near the top 16 or right in it, and you know we were 35th or 58th or something in points halfway through the year you know it felt like so we had a really bad start to the year and still made it so yeah maybe we can do the same this year it’d be really cool to start a lot stronger.
— Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing driver.
These remarks point to SVG’s determination to convert early difficulties into future success, aiming for a much stronger launch into the new season given the changed playoff criteria. The technical nuances of oval racing, like running inches from the wall at Las Vegas and mastering the art of “missing the apex on purpose,” became milestones in his adaptation journey.
The Significance of NASCAR’s Format Change and What Lies Ahead
For van Gisbergen and others who leveraged the former system, NASCAR’s reversion to its previous playoff format signals a major turning point. The new structure prioritizes sustained excellence, making the postseason more challenging for specialists but, as van Gisbergen conceded, potentially creating a more authentic championship battle. His reaction underscores the balance now required for drivers to achieve playoff qualification in this more rigorous NASCAR environment.
Looking ahead, van Gisbergen’s focus remains on translating technical growth and resilience into early strong results, hoping to secure a top-16 spot under the Chase rules. As the sport evolves, his journey will continue to resonate with fans interested in how international stars adapt and excel within NASCAR’s evolving competitive structure.
"It's hard for me because the reason I'm in this series is because of win and you're in."
But @shanevg97 went on to say The Chase is more of a "pure form of racing championship" adding that the format needed a change. 🏆
Big words from SVG 👀 pic.twitter.com/ZU7a3iKi8I
— PRN (@PRNlive) January 23, 2026
