Shane van Gisbergen is generating significant buzz in the NASCAR world as he gears up for the playoffs, thanks to his impressive performance on road courses. With four victories under his belt, the anticipation surrounding his potential success on oval tracks is growing. Recently, he achieved his first oval win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, taking home the title in the Pro Legends A-Feature during the final night of the 2025 Cook Out Summer Shootout.
His performance in the NASCAR Cup Series has also shown promise. Van Gisbergen secured a pole position at North Wilkesboro and qualified sixth at Dover and eleventh at Indianapolis. Out of 20 oval events during the regular season, the New Zealand driver has recorded six top-20 finishes, with his most notable leap coming when he advanced from 27th to 14th place at Richmond. This upward trajectory has led insiders to believe he will be a significant contender in the final ten playoff races, despite only one road course (the Roval) being included in the playoff lineup.
Insider Insights on Van Gisbergen’s Playoff Potential
On the NASCAR Inside the Race broadcast, analyst Steve Letarte provided a realistic outlook for van Gisbergen’s playoff hopes. He indicated that an average finish of around 17th place is typically needed to advance from the first round. Letarte acknowledged the challenge of the upcoming tracks: “I didn’t give the #88 a big chance of advancing. I still think it’s an uphill battle because Bristol is a challenge for him.”
Despite the obstacles, Letarte also highlighted Richmond as a turning point for van Gisbergen, noting, “This is the first glimpse… that I can make an argument. If this is the SVG on the ovals we see.” Fellow analyst Todd Gordon echoed this sentiment, praising van Gisbergen’s willingness to experiment with different racing lines. “He wasn’t afraid to do something different… I think he’s putting this together. He’s continuing to get better,” Gordon remarked.
The consensus among insiders is that if van Gisbergen can replicate his Richmond performance and avoid early elimination, he could have a legitimate chance at advancing in the playoffs.
Van Gisbergen’s Approach to the Upcoming Races
With two prior Cup starts at Darlington, where he finished 26th and 20th, van Gisbergen is keenly aware of the challenges ahead. Gateway, the second stop in the opening playoff round, presents an entirely new situation, as he has no prior experience on that track. His only Cup start at Bristol ended in disappointment due to suspension issues, resulting in a 38th-place finish.
During a media session at Watkins Glen International, van Gisbergen shared his thoughts on the playoffs and his expectations. “I really have no idea. I try not to race with expectations and just take it as it comes,” he admitted. Nonetheless, he recognizes the progress he has made, particularly when returning to familiar tracks, and aims to carry that momentum forward.
While Darlington remains his favorite oval, van Gisbergen acknowledges that Bristol and Gateway will be tougher challenges. “I don’t really know how we’re going to end up, but I do feel like we’re improving every week and our average running position or pace is definitely trending in the right direction,” he stated.
As he prepares for the upcoming race at Daytona next weekend, van Gisbergen is focused on building momentum and confidence before tackling the playoff ovals. If he can clear the Round of 16, he believes the subsequent round will better suit his strengths, particularly with the road course event at Charlotte Roval looming.
With van Gisbergen’s determination and the support from his team, including Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, the stage is set for an intriguing playoff run. The upcoming races will be crucial not only for individual performance but also for shaping the narrative of this season’s NASCAR playoffs.
