For years, Shane van Gisbergen made high-speed, high-commitment road courses look easy. A three-time Australian Supercars champion, he mastered blind apexes, unpredictable surfaces, and rain-soaked circuits without breaking a sweat. But when he jumped into NASCAR, he assumed one thing about superspeedway racing—that it would be boring as hell.
After all, what’s so difficult about holding the throttle flat for 500 miles?
Then he actually got behind the wheel.
“I Thought It Was Just Driving in Circles”
Before stepping into a Cup Series car, SVG had a hard time wrapping his head around why fans loved superspeedway racing.
“I thought it was just driving around in circles,” he admitted.
But once he hit the track for practice at Daytona, he got a taste of just how different things were.
“Yeah, this practice and qualifying stuff’s boring,” SVG shrugged. “It’s amazing, you just drive around one-handed blocking the air.”
And then? The green flag dropped.
“When you’re in the race, you’re going three or four seconds quicker, and you’ve got 35 other maniacs around you. That’s when it’s epic.”
Baptism by Fire at Talladega: “They Treat These Cars Like They’re Disposable”
SVG’s first real superspeedway experience came at Talladega in 2024, and it was a trial by fire. He vividly remembers the moment when the infamous “Big One” erupted in Turn 4.
“I thought I should back down,” SVG recalled. But then I saw Kyle Busch just stay flat-out and drive straight into the crash carelessly.”
SVG instinctively lifted to save his car. Busch? He floored it—gaining three or four more positions before his car was totaled.
“My car was brand new and ready to race next week, but he finished ahead of me.”
That’s when the realization hit:
“It’s like leading pigs to slaughter. They just treat the cars here like they’re disposable.”
No Warm Welcome—But Instant Respect
Superspeedway racing isn’t just about raw speed; it’s about survival, strategy, and nerve. One moment, you’re leading. The next, you’re boxed in three-wide with nowhere to go.
But SVG isn’t the type to back down from a challenge. His talent has quickly turned heads—even among NASCAR’s biggest names.
Kyle Busch: “He Kicked All of Our A—es”
The same Kyle Busch who SVG once watched barrel into a wreck has since become one of his biggest fans.
“(At Chicago) he had us all beat by probably six- to eight-tenths of a second a lap,” Busch admitted.
“Going into Indy, we should all be within two- or three-tenths, but he’ll still be the best guy.”
Kyle Larson: “These Supercars Guys Are No Joke”
Few NASCAR drivers understand multidiscipline dominance like Kyle Larson—and he knows SVG is the real deal.
“Obviously, I would not expect to run very good because Shane van Gisbergen came in and kicked all of our b—s,” Larson said.
Chase Elliott: “That Was Classy”
Chase Elliott praised SVG for his clean, calculated racing style.
“I thought his drive was not only impressive but very classy,” Elliott said. “He didn’t run over people to win the race. He did it the right way.”
SVG: “I Feel Like I Can Be In It Now”
Despite the brutality of superspeedway racing, SVG has grown to respect it.
“There’s so much more to it than I realized,” he admitted. “It’s a constant mental game.”
“It’s quite fascinating learning all these skills. I certainly feel like I can be in it now.”
The Bigger Picture: SVG’s Role in NASCAR’s International Future
SVG isn’t just proving himself in NASCAR—he’s helping redefine what the sport can be.
His success has reignited interest in road course racing, and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. believes that could be a game-changer for the sport’s global appeal.
“For NASCAR to achieve this idea of becoming more international, it’s got to happen on the road courses,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “That means there will be more road courses likely added.”
From Road Course King to Superspeedway Gladiator
Shane van Gisbergen came to NASCAR with zero stock car experience, and yet, he’s proving to be a natural talent in every discipline.
His first superspeedway race left him in shock. Now? He’s thriving in the chaos.
“These guys are maniacs,” he said with a grin. “But I love it.”
