Trackhouse’s SVG Gamble Sparks ‘Envy’ Across NASCAR Paddock, Claims Insider

“In my opinion, he put on a really big-time clinic. I don’t want to speak for everybody else, but he made me look bad. I kind of think the rest of us, too.” Chase Elliott said, after SVG’s debut inaugural Chicago Street Race in 2023.

Since then, the supercar champion has shifted the paradigm of road courses in NASCAR. Shane van Gisbergen notched his fourth win of the 2025 Cup Series season at Watkins Glen. He proved yet again that he is the one true hero when it comes to road course racing and that no one on the grid can beat him on this front.

Shane van Gisbergen and Trackhouse redefine NASCAR’s road course playbook

This wasn’t merely a routine guest-start victory. SVG’s debut exposed a gap in road-course preparation and demonstrated that a driver with elite international road-racing experience could immediately translate that skill into Cup success, forcing teams and competitors to reassess how they value road-course expertise. In a recent discussion of Herm and Schrader, it was brought to light that, “I think a lot of credit should go to Justin Marks and Trackhouse. All these teams are just reacting to the schedule. I bet you other teams are kind of jealous that they didn’t think of that.”

When Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) crossed from New Zealand and Australia to NASCAR, he wasn’t just following a racing dream; he was stepping into a long tradition of talent drawn to the United States. The logic is simple: the current format rewards specialty wins, and SVG’s road course pedigree makes him an obvious choice. Van Gisbergen’s Supercars background gave him a distinct edge over traditional NASCAR driving values. While NASCAR often rewards raw aggression and oval racing instincts, Supercars emphasize precision, heavy braking, and seamless transitions through complex corners. Unlike the mostly oval-centric NASCAR veterans, he blended aggressive overtakes with calculated patience, avoiding costly contact while seizing every opening.

Van Gisbergen crossed the finish line 11.116 seconds ahead of second-placed Christopher Bell at the historic Watkins Glen International circuit. This is the second race that he has won with a margin of over ten seconds. The more impressive element about this achievement is that he made it look completely effortless. Marks has built Trackhouse’s identity around calculated disruption, bringing in diverse talent, embracing international drivers, and leaning into the sport’s shifting schedule. Signing SVG wasn’t just a one-off; it fit the team’s broader strategy to exploit competitive gaps and market appeal. In a series historically dominated by oval-track veterans, Trackhouse’s approach signals a willingness to think globally while competing locally.

Hamlin warns of racing risks ahead for SVG

On the latest episode of Actions Detrimental, Joe Gibbs Racing veteran Denny Hamlin reflected on Shane van Gisbergen’s (SVG) recent run at Watkins Glen and issued a candid warning: even the fastest newcomer isn’t immune to NASCAR’s unpredictable nature. “There’s going to be a race where something happens that’s gonna take him out. Like, he got taken out of Chicago. Remember, in the wet somebody made a mistake. Like, he can be vulnerable to someone else making a mistake. He’s not going to make it on his own. It’s going to be into Turn 1. Somebody ping-pongs into someone else, and it knocks him into Shane after he just pitted. Like, that’s what we need. We need a conspiracy,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin, reflecting on the incident in 2024, when Shane van Gisbergen came into the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series street race in Chicago on a high note after winning both the Xfinity race and the Cup event’s first stage. He took the lead in Stage 1 after starting fifth and moving swiftly to the front. But problems arose on Lap 25 as the rain got heavier and the field was re-stacked for a restart. In sloppy circumstances, Chase Briscoe lost control as he entered Turn 6, sliding into SVG’s No. 16 Chevy and sending him crashing into the tire wall. Van Gisbergen was eliminated from the race and dropped to 40th place due to the significant damage.

SVG’s four victories this year, also at Mexico City, Chicago, and Sonoma, give him the rookie win record, and he now ties perennial championship contender Denny Hamlin for most victories in the series this year.