Picture this: a world-class racer zooming at breakneck speeds, daringly flirting with disaster on a massive oval track—it's the adrenaline-pumping reality that NASCAR sensation Shane van Gisbergen just can't get over. But here's the kicker: what he calls 'crazy' might just redefine how we see the high-stakes thrills of motor racing. Dive in as we unpack his eye-opening insights on oval racing, straight from the driver's seat.
Shane van Gisbergen, the superstar of the NASCAR Cup Series, recently shared his take on one of the most mind-boggling aspects of oval racing after reliving a wild moment from last weekend's action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Having transitioned from the Supercars series—where he clinched three championship titles—to a full-time role in NASCAR back in 2023, Van Gisbergen first dipped his toes into the sport through the Xfinity Series before leaping into the elite Cup Series for the 2025 season.
Reflecting on a video clip capturing his blistering pace around the Las Vegas track, the driver—who's already secured four wins in the 2025 Cup Series so far—admitted that this particular element of oval racing still blows his mind. 'Still one of the craziest parts of oval racing to me,' he told Motorsport.com. 'Send it in at 310kph/190mph, missing apex on purpose, heading to the wall hoping an imaginary grip strip/air pocket is going to save you from hitting it, then hearing the exhaust echo on the wall as it holds you off it. Wild!' For those new to racing lingo, the 'apex' is basically the ideal turning point in a corner, and missing it deliberately here means gambling on unseen forces—like a hidden patch of traction or a pocket of air pressure—to keep the car from slamming into the wall. It's a high-risk maneuver that showcases the sheer unpredictability and skill involved in oval tracks, where physics and intuition collide in heart-stopping ways.
And this is the part most people miss: how such daring techniques aren't just about speed—they're a testament to the mental chess game drivers play against the track itself. Curious about more drama on the circuit? Check out this update: an injured NASCAR star has just revealed their comeback timeline in a recent health bulletin.
Now, shifting gears, avid fans of the Cup Series know that Van Gisbergen has shone brightly on road courses this season, whereas ovals have posed tougher challenges. Sure, he's shown marked improvement as the year has unfolded, but the true test looms this weekend at Talladega—the colossal 2.66-mile oval that stands as the largest on the NASCAR calendar. 'It's crazy and very different than a traditional oval,' Van Gisbergen remarked about the Alabama venue. 'We are doing 320 kilometers in a pack of 40 cars. It's amazing how fast we are going, all squeezed together.'
Talladega, often called a superspeedway, ramps up the intensity with its vast size and tight formations, where drafting off other cars can catapult speeds into the stratosphere. It's notoriously one of the hardest races in the series due to the chaos of pack racing, where minor mistakes can lead to massive pile-ups. Van Gisbergen hopes this event will demonstrate his growing mastery of superspeedway action and deliver a strong outcome. The 36-year-old New Zealander competed at Talladega back in April, securing a 29th-place finish, but his top oval result came last year with Kaulig Racing, where he grabbed a respectable 15th spot.
But here's where it gets controversial: is Van Gisbergen's transition from road course wizard to oval dominator a sign of true versatility, or should he double down on his strengths? Some critics argue that adapting to ovals requires a different skill set altogether, one that might not fully align with his Supercars background. What do you think—does this make him a jack-of-all-trades racer, or is pushing boundaries on ovals just inviting unnecessary risk? We'd love to hear your take in the comments below.
'I like the challenge of all them. I like how different they all are,' the Kiwi wrapped up, referring to the rest of his 2025 schedule, which includes stops at Martinsville and Phoenix. 'The intermediates, they look the same shape on paper, but when you go there, they all drive so differently. I really like the challenge of finding all the little intricacies on the track and what makes the cars work.' These intermediate tracks, though similar in layout, demand unique driving approaches—think subtle differences in banking, surface grip, or air dynamics—that keep even seasoned pros on their toes. It's a reminder that NASCAR isn't just about raw power; it's a puzzle of precision and adaptation.
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