Shane van Gisbergen Is Determined to “Prove People Wrong” Over Early Elimination Predictions

Trackhouse Racing star driver Shane van Gisbergen has shared his playoff hopes, as there is only one road course race in the post-season.

Shane van Gisbergen Is Determined to “Prove People Wrong” Over Early Elimination Predictions

Shane van Gisbergen (Via IMAGO)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen is coming into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as the most winningest driver of the regular season alongside Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin. Both of the racers secured 22 bonus points for these wins, with the former winning it all in the raid courses. This has inspired many to overlook the Kiwi for R-12 promotion.

The major reason for many race analysts, including Denny Hamlin, has predicted an early Shane van Gisbergen elimination is his oval racing form. Unlike the rest of the grid, SVG had no experience on ovals before making his NASCAR debut and he has only racer on these tracks in the last two years. Though the three times Supercars champion showed massive progress, it isn’t enough.

But SVG doesn’t share the same feelings, as on his media appearance ahead of the playoffs the veteran asserted that he has no pressure on his shoulders regarding the playoff at the moment. He knows the playoff oval races, as a rookie, is going to tough for him but he is looking forward for the hard times.

It doesn’t worry us. It puts no pressure on us, right? If we have a good week this week, it makes the next few harder. But if we have a tough week, it puts us in a hole and it’s going to be hard to get out of it.

Shane van Gisbergen said via Motorsports.com.

This factor is giving him the inspiration to prove people wrong and secure a deep run in the playoffs, as his chances would double once, he gets pass R-16 as there is the ROVAL race in R-12. What makes it more special is the fact that he cherishes the moments when is back against the wall and use the underdog opportunity to silence critics.

Hopefully it will be nice to prove people wrong, too. It’s always fun to have your back against the wall, and have to push hard. I don’t use it for motivation or anything, but it’s cool being the underdog.

Shane van Gisbergen added.

Shane van Gisbergen explains his progress in the ovals

In the same media session, SVG shared his thoughts on how he has progressed in the oval tracks. It has taken a him a long-time to produce result better than P30+ at ovals. He is yet to find the way to consistently crack the top-20, as he should in order to go deep in the playoffs.

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

He had to learn oval racing from the basic, while fighting for positions against racers that grew up racing in these tracks. But he has time to learns and with the playoff featuring same tracks as in the regular season, gives him some confidence.

Just time. I don’t know anything different. It’s taken me a long time to learn the ovals, particularly because I haven’t done them before. So finally starting to go to tracks for the second time and yeah, hopefully go better.

Shane van Gisbergen said.

He has become more comfortable running close to the wall, and has found ways to navigate the car sliding during the races. Having Ross Chastain, who is good in these aspects as a teammate, might have helped him a lot. But the challenges would be much different once the playoff starts as unlike in the regular season races; the garage is more motivated to do their best.

Also Read: Denny Hamlin Brands 2025 Championship Chase as “Another Chance to Roll the Dice”