There are no guarantees in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
While many people have Shane Van Gisbergen (SVG) as an “easy” first-round exit, simply because of his lack of experience with oval racing at NASCAR’s top level, by no means is his elimination a forgone conclusion.
The Auckland, New Zealand-native took advantage of the win-and-you’re-in format of the NASCAR Playoffs and gave himself a chance to fight for the championship, winning road course events at Mexico City, Sonoma, Chicago, and Watkins Glen. That gave him enough Playoff Points (20) to be seeded in sixth.
With a 16-point buffer on the cutline, the Round of 16 brings drivers to three vastly different ovals, starting with the always tricky Darlington Raceway. The second race of the first round, WWT Raceway, is a track that Van Gisbergen has never seen before, and the elimination race of the first round is Bristol, a racetrack he struggled to get a grip on in the Spring.
Shane Van Gisbergen, though, is just happy to be here: “It’s a privilege to be here and we’ve had an amazing year and run, so hopefully [we can] keep going.”
Most people forget that Van Gisbergen, 36, is a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series, and just in his second year of full-time competition in NASCAR’s National Series – after running a season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024 for Kaulig Racing.
Last Fall, Darlington Raceway was the site of a seventh-place result in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and earlier this season, the 1.366-mile racetrack was the site of his first top 20 oval result in the NASCAR Cup Series this season.
So, what is it about Darlington that suits the driving style of a road course expert?
“I think you have to be very precise. You’ve got to be millimetre perfect every lap, comfortable to run against the wall and the proximity to the wall, and then the repetition and consistency,” said Van Gisbergen. “I think that seems to suit me, and the way the cars slide around, I really enjoy that place.”
Beyond Sunday’s event at Darlington, though, Van Gisbergen understands that it won’t be an easy task to advance to even the second round of the NASCAR Playoffs: “Well, just the first round is difficult,” Van Gisbergen stated. “Gateway, I have never been to, and Bristol was very, very difficult. So, yeah, hopefully it goes good.”
Now, if the Trackhouse Racing driver could somehow find himself advancing into the ‘Round of 12’, then with Charlotte’s ROVAL as the elimination race, there is a distinct possibility that the No. 88 Chevrolet could even sneak into ‘Round of 8’.
“I think this year it’s been good… just trying to stay level-headed, take it week by week,” he added. “We’re in an amazing spot to be here, and we have no expectations to make it through the second round. No one knows what we’re going to do. If we go and perform, we can surprise some people.”
Will it be a championship-winning effort for Shane Van Gisbergen in 2025? Maybe not, but running throughout the Playoffs will certainly help to strengthen the bond between the Trackhouse Racing team moving forward, something the New Zealander says is already a strength for the No. 88.
“[My] biggest strength, I guess, is my team,” said Van Gisbergen. “I’ve got awesome people in my corner, and I know they’ll do anything for us to succeed. Seeing the work and preparation in the team has been awesome. The vibe and how knuckled down everyone is… It’s really cool to be a part of that. The weakness is me. It’s my inexperience, and I’ve got those people helping to make me better.”
Coming off of two consecutive top-20s on ovals (14th at Richmond and 16th at Daytona), Van Gisbergen will begin his first NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs run at Darlington Raceway with Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500.
Coverage of the event will be at 6:00 pm ET on USA Network, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
