Shane van Gisbergen has had an exceptionally impressive rookie season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, but he’s more than just a road-course specialist. Although all three of his wins have been on road courses, he has also achieved three more top-10 finishes at tracks like Atlanta, Phoenix, and Indianapolis.
With limited practice time, van Gisbergen has had to learn during the races themselves. Nonetheless, he’s adapted swiftly to the Xfinity Series, finishing in the top 15 in 12 of his first 20 races. A promising top-10 finish at Pocono was thwarted by contact with Sam Mayer, but it’s evident that SVG has quickly adapted to stock-car racing.
Thanks to his prowess on road courses, van Gisbergen currently leads the Xfinity Series in wins. If the regular season ended today, he would be ranked in the top five, giving him a significant advantage in his quest for the 2024 Xfinity Series championship.
However, his limited experience on ovals shouldn’t lead his championship rivals to underestimate him. There’s only one road course in the playoffs—the Charlotte Roval on October 12—which doubles as the elimination race for the Round of 12. Even if van Gisbergen doesn’t fare well at Kansas and Talladega, a victory at the Roval would guarantee his advancement to the Round of 8.
The Round of 8 schedule doesn’t particularly favor van Gisbergen, featuring Las Vegas, Homestead, and Martinsville. However, it doesn’t spell the end of his championship hopes either. Van Gisbergen had a tough luck at Las Vegas in March due to engine problems, but Homestead will be a new challenge for him. On the other hand, Martinsville could present a chance for him to make a significant impact.
Van Gisbergen was running in the top 10 at Martinsville in April before finishing 11th. Given his ability to adapt quickly to new tracks, a second visit to Martinsville could be the key to his first oval win.
Xfinity Series competitors, beware: Under the friendly exterior of the Auckland native lies a fierce competitor who is proving to be one of the most impressive rookies in NASCAR history.