“He isn’t Superman!” Michael McDowell Downplays Shane van Gisbergen’s Road Course Domination

Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen isn’t invincible on road courses according to Spire Motorsports racer Michael McDowell.

“He isn’t Superman!” Michael McDowell Downplays Shane van Gisbergen’s Road Course Domination

Michael McDowell (via Imago images) and Shane van Gisbergen (via Motorsport.com)

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The 2024 NASCAR Cup season witnessed an elite level of road course racing the sport has never seem. Trackhouse Racing’s three times Supercars championship winning rookie Shane van Gisbergen won four of the five races so far, with one more road course left in the playoffs, Gateway, for him secure and mark racing history.

But not everyone is a fan of this hype around the Kiwi racer, with many already seeing him winning his fifth race. No:71 Spire Motorsports driver Michael McDowell is one of those drivers, who doesn’t see the domination continue. He was one of the drivers that used to dominate and win wild cars races like road courses before Shane van Gisbergen came to the sport.

In his recent interview, Mc Driver shared his thoughts on the No:88 Trackhouse Racing driver and shared the different perspective he has about him. He admitted that SVG has been incredible but declared that he isn’t superman, indicating the Chevy driver is beatable. McDowell also credited the Supercars background for the racers’ domination.

I have a different perspective on this. What he’s doing right now is incredible. But he’s not Superman. He’s doing everything just a little bit better because of his background.

Michael McDowell said via The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Further talking about the point, he highlighted how SVG uses his superior experience to his advantage. Unlike the regular Cup drivers, Gisbergen always breaks late on turns and have a different racing line that the rest of the grid, giving the rest of the grid an advantage.

He brakes a little later and different going into a turn. His line through turns is a little different. He accelerates a little earlier exiting turns. It’s a matter of feet. But it’s turn after turn, lap after lap.

Michael McDowell added.

The domination of racer is not having a negative effect of the Cup garage, instead it is a positive one. McDowell declared the SVG is forcing every driver to be better and find new adjustments to the car, that can help the gain speed. It’s a matter of time before all these efforts come together and give them a way to beat the Kiwi.

He’s pushing all of us to be better. He’s pushing everyone to make some adjustments. And it will happen. It’s just a matter of time.

Michael McDowell asserted.

Jimmie Johnson discusses Shane van Gisbergen’s Road Course GOAT status

One of the major discussions that came out of SVG’s domination, is the GOAT tag given to his by many in garage. Seven times Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who has raced with the greatest likes Tony Stewrat and Jeff Gordon, finds it tough to give him the tag, but declared that Gisbergen is definitely on another level.

Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson (Via IMAGO)

It’s tough to put the GOAT tag on a guy after two seasons. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart were great on road courses. But having the argument that SVG is the best ever is valid. He’s in his own stratosphere. We’ve had guys go on streaks on road courses. If he’s there for five or 10 years, that’s a different story.

Jimmie Johnson said.

The comments from Johnson seems reasonable, as SVG should be given few more years before crowing him as the NASCAR road course racing GOAT. There will be more elite level domination left in him to produce on the track or the rest of the grid might catch up to him. It would be interesting to see how the Kiwi’s Cup career is going to playout.

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