Dale Earnhardt Jr. Declares Shane van Gisbergen Isn’t ‘Stealing a Playoff Spot’ From His Rivals

Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has shared his thoughts on questioning of Shane van Gisbergen’s playoff entry credibility.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Declares Shane van Gisbergen Isn’t ‘Stealing a Playoff Spot’ From His Rivals

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Shane van Gisbergen (Via IMAGO)

Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen produced yet another magical run in an inaugural NASCAR race, as he won the Mexico City race. His second career win earned him a spot in the playoffs, and some parts of the racing community isn’t a fan of the driver outside the top-30 getting a spot. But Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. got his back amidst the backlash.

Seven times Cup Series champion Richard Petty has been one of the many veterans of the sport that made these comments regarding credibility of Shane van Gisbergen’s playoffs entry. In the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. highlighted how the same arguments came when Harrison Burton won last season with Wood Brothers Racing.

There is a bit of a conversation, I suppose, going on around the sport, similarly to last year when Harrison Burton won his race and sent the Wood Brothers into the playoffs sitting around 30th in points. It’s the way the rules are written.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.

He doesn’t have any problem with how the format is structured and how it rewards the one-race wonder drivers with the significant playoff opportunity.  The amin reason behind these feelings is the fact that everyone in the garage knows there is possibility of a surprise winner every regular season and the rules should be embraced.

I don’t necessarily have a problem with it. I didn’t have a problem with it last year. If that’s how NASCAR wants to write the rules, I can embrace it. Everyone knows what they are when the season begins.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. added.

Further addressing concerns some has about SVG ruining the championship run of a driver that might fail to make it into the last-16 on point, Junior asserted that it is pointless. The poor oval performance of the No:88 team means they don’t have many shots at the title and the drivers finishing in the final playoff spot often aren’t contenders.

Do I think SVG is going to go and spoil the Championship battle by winning the whole thing outright? I don’t. His performance on the ovals would argue he still has a ways to go. So, I’m not so worried about that and I don’t even feel like he’s stealing a spot from somebody maybe better deserving; somebody 15th, 14th in points.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. asserted.

Shane van Gisbergen is feelings like a racing rookie in 2025

One of the major issues behind SVG’s poor rookie Cup season is the fact that racing in the Xfinity Series last season, and securing three wins, wasn’t enough for him to learn Cup racing. Though he understood the oval layouts, the massive difference in the cars of the two series made it tough for him employee his learnings in the elite division.  

Shane van Gisbergen (via NASCAR)
Shane van Gisbergen (via NASCAR)

There’s no comparison to how they drive, how they react in the air. I feel like I’m learning everything again. I went to Nashville the other week and the cars drive nothing similar. I feel like I’m a complete rookie all together, but the results are improving and the pace is getting better. I feel like we’re not forcing it. Like I’m not doing stupid stuff trying to keep up every week.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.

Further talking about the point, he admitted that every week is a learning curve for him, with he and his team working hard to remain competitive. It has yielded results for them, with top-15 runs and shows there is potential for him to be contenders in the oval in the coming years. It would be interesting to see how long it will take for SVG to secure his maiden win on oval tracks.

Also Read: Joey Logano Defends Controversial NASCAR Playoff System, Declares It “Rewards Consistency”