Shane van Gisbergen will now have a new challenge as he enters his second full-time NASCAR Cup Series season. Previously, the Kiwi dominated almost all the road course events; however, with the championship overhaul, Gisbergen needs to buckle up as NASCAR returns to the Chase-style format.
In a recent interaction with a reporter during NASCAR media day, Shane van Gisbergen shared his thoughts on the drawbacks that he might face in the new championship format. In his rookie Cup season, the former Supercars champion comfortably booked his playoff berth with a dominant road course win. Moreover, secured five Cup wins in his maiden full-time season.
In a conversation via PRNLive, SVG said:
“I think it kind of needed a change. Yeah, but it’s hard for me, like the reason I’m in this series is because of win-and-you’re-in right, but I feel like I’ve gotten better at ovals to where I don’t have to rely on it. But yeah, it’s certainly going to be an achievement to make that Top 16.”
While he headlined every NASCAR road course event, his personal best on an oval remains a tenth-place finish. He has since acknowledged the challenges of the new Chase format, noting how it will reward those who perform at the highest level week in and week out.
“But I think it’s a good target for us and something that is achievable. I think it rewards those top guys now, you know, that are always winning and they were the guys calling for it, I guess. But yeah, for me, that’s more of a pure racing championship, so probably a good thing in that regard,” added Shane van Gisbergen.
As he prepares for the season-opener Daytona 500 race, Shane van Gisbergen will not only need to up his traditional oval game in the first 26 races of the season, but also in the postseason, where the points accumulated will only decide who will bring the championship home.
Shane van Gisbergen switches from #88 to #97 for the 2026 NASCAR season
Shane van Gisbergen made his NASCAR debut in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing. However, starting this new season, SVG will be able to drive the No. 97, a number close to his heart and his racing legacy.
For the majority of his Supercars racing career, SVG drove the #97, reflecting on the same, he said:
“It means a lot to have the No. 97 on my Cup car. It’s a number that means so much to my family and me, so to see it on my car for the first time was surreal. I love the red flash designs on both sides of the car. It’s going to look epic on track.”
Shane van Gisbergen and the No. 97 Chevy will be back in action for the esteemed Daytona 500 race on February 15.
