Shane van Gisbergen’s journey to the NASCAR playoffs has been far from smooth, his recent performance at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) leaving fans and insiders alike questioning whether his road course expertise will be enough to secure him a spot. The New Zealand native, known for his prowess on road courses, has been struggling to maintain his momentum, leading to speculation about his future in the tournament.
Since his switch to NASCAR, van Gisbergen has consistently demonstrated his exceptional talent, with his victory at the 2023 Chicago Street Race in difficult conditions being a testament to his skills. His impressive second-place finish at the Glen further validated his reputation as a formidable competitor. Yet, despite these successes, van Gisbergen’s performance at the COTA has raised doubts about his potential to reach the playoffs.
The Teardown podcast, hosted by NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, provided an in-depth analysis of van Gisbergen’s performance at the COTA. The hosts noted that despite van Gisbergen’s impressive start, he struggled with restarts throughout the day. Bianchi compared the situation to that of AJ Allmendinger a few years ago, cautioning that winning road courses is not a guaranteed ticket to the playoffs.
Additionally, van Gisbergen’s struggles were not limited to restarts alone. Despite having the best tires amongst his competitors, the #88 Trackhouse Racing driver was unable to maintain his lead. His final set of tires failed to impress, and he found himself in the middle of the pack, eventually restarting in 6th position. Despite a spirited fightback, he fell behind again on the restart, and his inability to keep pace with drivers such as Bell and Busch eventually led to his downfall at the COTA.
The skepticism surrounding van Gisbergen’s performance extends beyond Bianchi. Even Richard Petty, the legendary NASCAR driver, has expressed concerns about van Gisbergen’s fading advantage on road courses, pointing out that his data is accessible to all teams, potentially diminishing his competitive edge.
As the regular season draws to a close, van Gisbergen has just four road course races left to prove his mettle. The pressure to perform is mounting, especially after his missed opportunity at the COTA. The Kiwi driver now faces two alternatives: either intensify his efforts on the remaining road courses or hone his skills on ovals.
This isn’t the first time van Gisbergen has been in such a predicament. Bianchi recalled an incident from 2024 at Watkins Glen where van Gisbergen was on the verge of winning but lost due to a mistake, allowing Chris Buescher to seize the victory.
These instances underscore the harsh reality of racing – sometimes, even a minor error can cost a driver the victory. The road to the playoffs is particularly challenging for racers like van Gisbergen, who specialize in road courses. Unlike other drivers who compete throughout the regular season, they only have a handful of opportunities to prove themselves and secure a spot in the playoffs. Van Gisbergen’s journey to the playoffs, therefore, remains a wild ride, and only time will tell whether he will make the cut.