Shane van Gisbergen’s mastery of road courses just hit legendary status. The Kiwi sensation extended his incredible streak to five straight road course wins after dominating the Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Behind the wheel of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, SVG led 57 laps, won by over 15 seconds, and made the Roval look more like his personal playground than one of NASCAR’s trickiest tracks. But while his dominance on road courses seems effortless, SVG knows there’s still one area he’s playing catch-up in – short tracks.

And instead of waiting for experience to come to him, he’s been out there earning it the old-fashioned way. Yes, it was by going back to the grassroots level and getting his basics right.

Shane van Gisbergen sharpens short track craft

With the Round of 8 looming and a pivotal showdown at Martinsville on the horizon, short-track skills couldn’t matter more for NASCAR drivers. Martinsville, though known for its chaos, is not just another stop in a pressure-packed playoff round; it is going to be a decider.

For Shane van Gisbergen, adapting to American-style ovals (especially short tracks) has been an ongoing trial by fire, reflected in steady but modest stats. His finishes average around 29th at short tracks in 2025, underscoring the challenge. Determined to close the learning gap, SVG jumped into Tuesday night’s Legends car races at Charlotte. On the PRNLive podcast, he was asked, “Was that just for fun or was that for working on turning left a little more?”

The Kiwi explained, “It’s a bit of everything. It’s just more experience and all these guys, they did this when they were kids.” The grassroots interest, fueled partly by Bubba Wallace, gave SVG the chance to hone car control, left-foot braking, and close-quarters racing. In July, Shane van Gisbergen celebrated his first oval victory at the Charlotte Summer Shootout in the Pro Legends A-Feature, a testament to the practical value of these midweek sessions.

“They came and raced those Legends cars when they were 10-12 years old. So, I’m just so far behind on that stuff. I need experience and plus it was a lot of fun doing it every Tuesday,” he further explained. Shane van Gisbergen’s late start stands in contrast to the backgrounds of many NASCAR stars. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kurt Busch, William Byron, and others all cut their teeth in the Legends series from a young age, shaping racecraft that still pays off at the Cup level.

As October’s playoff grind intensifies, SVG’s commitment to grassroots racing helps sharpen the edge he needs to stay competitive on ovals while being hailed as one of NASCAR’s greatest road course racers. His journey proves that it’s never too late to embrace the basics, and it’s authentic practice (not just big-race glory) that forges NASCAR’s most adaptable competitors. And with thought, he enters Las Vegas.

Shane van Gisbergen’s livery for Las Vegas revealed

Shane van Gisbergen is turning heads with his striking New Zealand-inspired livery for the upcoming Las Vegas NASCAR Cup Series race. The #88 Trackhouse Chevrolet will don a sleek black base, adorned with silver ferns and red stars. These are symbols that are deeply rooted in the New Zealand sporting tradition. The Silver Fern, carried by iconic teams like the All Blacks and Silver Ferns, serves as a proud badge of Kiwi identity.

“It’s an awesome paint scheme, so special to have some influence on the design,” SVG shared, visibly moved. “It’s super cool to be able to show some of my Kiwi heritage on the track this weekend in Las Vegas. To have the Southern Cross, Silver Fern, and the colours of New Zealand on my car. I was speechless when I first saw it. Just really special to me, and I’m excited to be carrying huge momentum with my team into the weekend.”

While the oval at Las Vegas presents fresh challenges, SVG’s attitude has been relentlessly positive. His progression on mile-and-a-half ovals reflects a steady learning curve, starting the year near the back, but now regularly competing for top-ten finishes, as he said, “Vegas is a pretty tough one with the speed and the bumps… Every week I’m out there, I learn something and have thoughts on how to be better again. I know I have a long way to go, that’s for sure, but I’m enjoying that process.”

The new livery is more than cosmetic. In fact, it’s a statement of pride and international ambition, making SVG a symbol of NASCAR’s global reach. As the engine roars at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Kiwi colors of van Gisbergen’s car offer a fresh burst of national pride for fans at home and a reminder of how far SVG has come in his rookie season.