The NASCAR community is reeling from the unparalleled mastery of Shane van Gisbergen on road courses as he continues to outpace competitors like Christopher Bell. van Gisbergen’s latest exhibition of dominance came during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, where he led a staggering 97 out of 110 laps.
His unique ability to dominate road courses has left Christopher Bell scratching his head. Alongside Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson and other prominent drivers, they have allacknowledged van Gisbergen’s know-how on road courses. From Bell’s perspective, being the second-best driver in Trackhouse Racing’s car does not yield nearly enough credit, let alone street cred, for a 5th place finish.
Later, in a podcast, Christopher shared his newfound respect towards van Gisbergen by admitting that the phenomenal driver had indeed solved one of NASCAR’s unsolvable puzzles, claiming that driver No. 88 was on a roll with his strategy. Following his triumphs at the 2024 Sonoma and Chicago races, I daresay the era of Road Course van Gisbergen has begun, as Kiwis are known for their proclivities towards dominating foreign tracks, and the racing world is simply not ready for the level he is bringing to international circuits.
Echoing Bell’s praise, van Gisbergen’s crew chief, Stephen Doran, described the driver as a revolutionary figure in the face of NASCAR’s multitude of road courses. While fierce competition and Bell’s unyielding pursuit of victory makes van Gisbergen distinctively remarkable, it is his performance that renders him a true pioneer in the NASCAR world.
The remaining question within the NASCAR community is whether Bell will be the one to unseat van Gisbergen as the reigning road course king. Set against the backdrop of the 2025 Championship, the table is set for a testosterone-laden clash of hotheaded rivals fighting to show dominance on the tarmac. The suspense—will Bell rise to the occasion for one last shot at van Gisbergen’s road course empire? This storyline remains to be written in the relentless race through time, unmatched prowess, and unwavering will.
