Shane van Gisbergen, known for his exceptional NASCAR performances, praised the remarkable debut of 17-year-old Brent Crews after the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The young driver’s fearless approach stood out in front of Cup Series regulars and experienced racers during a key national series event.
Brent Crews Makes Impression With Bold Moves at COTA
Brent Crews surprised many in his very first NASCAR national series race with a calm presence and outstanding execution, standing alongside competitors with much greater experience. Despite the nerves typically felt by newcomers, Crews managed a remarkable showing during a crucial restart in Stage 2. Executing a daring four-wide maneuver up the hill toward Turn 1, he took the lead from Shane van Gisbergen, showing both confidence and skill against the seasoned champion.
After the race, Crews shared his excitement, saying,
“This is something I’ve been looking forward to for the past 10 years and it was everything I’ve expected, and more,”
Crews said after the race.
“Everybody’s really aggressive and really good. The cars are really close and just excited to be right where I am.”
– Brent Crews, NASCAR Driver.
Shane van Gisbergen, who ultimately secured the win at COTA, acknowledged the extraordinary talent shown by Crews. Gisbergen’s own credentials as a standout road course driver added weight to his observation about the young star’s abilities.
“That was awesome to watch. He was driving like crazy. I couldn’t drive like that. I’d be worn out in two laps. He was just crazy on the limit and it was really cool to watch. He looks like he’s an amazing talent and I’m sure he’ll be really good in not much time.”
– Shane van Gisbergen, Cup Series Driver.
Rising Stars Set Sights on Phoenix and Beyond
After his head-turning debut, Brent Crews is scheduled to return to action next Saturday at Phoenix Raceway for the March 7 NOAPS event. With his outstanding start, attention will be on how Crews handles the unique challenges of Phoenix. Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen prepares for Sunday’s Cup Series race at the same track, eager for his first win of the 2026 season. His strong performance at COTA suggests he might contend for consecutive victories on road courses.
Kyle Larson Admired Shane van Gisbergen’s Unique Racing Skills
Following Saturday’s event, Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports publicly addressed the impact of Shane van Gisbergen during his media appearance with Frontstretch.com. Instead of minimizing the challenge, Larson was candid in praising van Gisbergen’s unparalleled racing intellect and strategic vision, particularly on road courses.
“He’s just better at everything than us,”
Larson said of Shane van Gisbergen.
“But I think that the thing that he is a lot better than us at is just his race craft, like how he sees opportunities for passing and things like that.”
– Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver.
“I might not see what he sees and then he makes a move and you’re like, ‘Wow,’ like I would’ve never even thought to make a pass there or like that,”
he continued.
“So, it’s really really fun to watch.”
– Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Driver.
Larson himself will also be part of Sunday’s competition at Phoenix, seeking his first win of the season. Fans can catch all the action live on FOX or tune into updates from PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for race-day coverage.
Impact on NASCAR and What Lies Ahead
With both established champions and emerging talents pushing boundaries, the NASCAR scene is poised for even more exciting showdowns. The impressive Shane van Gisbergen NASCAR performance at COTA and the fearless tactics from Brent Crews have set a high standard for talent and competitiveness in upcoming races. As the season unfolds, fans and teams will keep a close watch to see how these drivers shape the dynamic landscape of top-level stock car racing.
“He’s better at everything than us”
Kyle Larson praises the road course prowess of Shane van Gisbergen. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/OqueYQiMB7
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) February 28, 2026
