Shane van Gisbergen Embraces Darlington Chaos in His NASCAR Oval Journey

Shane van Gisbergen’s 2025 NASCAR season has been nothing short of a dream run. The New Zealander has stunned the stock car world, racking up four wins, tied with Denny Hamlin for most on the year, and comfortably securing his place in the playoffs. Slotted sixth in the standings with a +16 cushion, SVG looks every bit the dark horse poised for a deep run, especially with tracks like the Charlotte Roval sitting firmly in his wheelhouse.

The playoff season kicks starts with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway this Sunday. The Trackhouse driver has managed a decent 20th place in qualification. As we all know, Darlington is a place where history, chaos, and survival blur together on the worn-out asphalt. And for SVG, Darlington carries a unique twist that makes his return more compelling than most.

Shane van Gisbergen welcomes the Darlington drama

NASCAR heads to the first race of the postseason: The Darlington Raceway. As one of the hottest drivers entering the postseason, Shane van Gisbergen is eyeing Darlington as both a challenge and an opportunity to test his adaptability. Darlington remains one of NASCAR’s most unpredictable tracks, and SVG has loved every second of it. Even from his first taste. “I first went there in Xfinity last year, practice was rained out, and we went straight into the race with no laps,” he recalled.

If you remember, heavy rain on May 10, 2024, at Darlington Raceway canceled the NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying session for the Crown Royal Purple Bag Project 200. As a result, the starting lineup was determined using the NASCAR rulebook. Shane van Gisbergen was placed in 17th place.

As if learning the track on the fly wasn’t enough drama, he admitted, “It was awesome.” His debut ended in a decent 15th-place finish, despite no practice or qualifying. In a post-race interview back then, van Gisbergen noted he was “just that little bit off” and that the performance was a learning experience, as he continued to adapt to the Xfinity Series and prepared for potential Cup Series opportunities in 2025.

Now with some experience logged, he’s approaching the 2025 race with even more strategy. “It’s a fun track, but it’s a long race this weekend.” He knows tire wear, groove erosion, and the track’s relentless nature, thanks to the steep banking, could wreak havoc, especially as a playoff-eligible driver. The race weekend kicked off with practice and qualifying on Saturday, with the main event on Sunday. The Southern 500 is one of the longest races of the season, spanning 367 laps, covering a total distance of 500 miles.

For van Gisbergen, Darlington isn’t just another date on the calendar. Instead, it’s a test of patience, precision, and resilience. From a no-lap debut in 2024 to a playoff seat in 2025, the ‘Lady in Black’ now stands as a proving ground. Whether he tames it or not, SVG is ready to make the grind count.

Shane van Gisbergen acknowledges oval inexperience

Shane van Gisbergen’s transformation into a NASCAR sensation has been spectacular. Yet, despite his blistering road-course form, SVG is the first to admit that his Achilles’ heel lies on the ovals. On NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Media Day, he laid it bare. “Strength, I guess, is my team… The weakness is me. It’s my inexperience, and I’ve got those people helping me to get better.”

His oval statistics confirm the concern. While his average finish at road and street courses stands at an exceptional 8.2, the same can’t be said for ovals. He has average finishes ranging from high-teens to high-thirties at different oval tracks (short, intermediate, superspeedways, etc).

Simulation models show Darlington, the opening round’s first oval, dramatically influences playoff odds. A strong finish could improve his chances significantly, while a poor one could send those odds plummeting. But SVG isn’t taking it lying down. He’s actively studying more experienced oval runners like Denny Hamlin, who are dealing with their own Achilles’ heel. Moreover, SVG is using the repeated track encounters (seven of the 10 playoff races repeat earlier-season tracks) to gain familiarity and speed.

“The oval progression has been slow, but steady,” he admitted. “You’ve got to eliminate or minimize what you do wrong…and that comes with preparation.” In many ways, van Gisbergen’s candid self-awareness and iron-clad team backing position him as the quiet wildcard of this postseason. If his oval learning curve continues to bend upward, the path to the final four, and maybe something more, could be well within reach.