Shane van Gisbergen returns to Daytona in 2026 determined to improve on his 33rd-place finish in his debut at the famous track last year. Despite dominating road courses with five wins in six starts last season, van Gisbergen has faced a steeper learning curve on oval circuits, where he has gradually improved his performance as the season progressed.
Early in the year, over his first stretch of oval races through Michigan, van Gisbergen’s average finishing positions ranged between 26.6 and 30.4. In the latter half of the season, those numbers improved, averaging between 22.2 and 23.2, lowering his oval finish average from 26.26 to 22.73. On high-speed drafting tracks like Daytona, he has posted an average race finish of 24.6 across ten starts—not spectacular, but better than before.
Van Gisbergen’s Approach to Building Rapport and Experience
The Daytona environment is unlike any other, and as a driver for Trackhouse Racing, van Gisbergen has approached these events carefully, likening his efforts to a “handshake tour” in the garage, trying to avoid conflicts with competitors. He openly acknowledged the delicate social dynamics involved in racing on ovals.
“I’m still learning and trying to make friends, I guess,”
he said.
“Like, it’s still people leave you for no reason or you do something wrong and lose the trust of people. So, yeah, it takes a while how to understand to put your car in the right place, yeah.”
Van Gisbergen emphasized how different oval racing is compared to what he’s done previously, regarding driving style, car setups, race dynamics, and track surface changes. The New Zealand driver explained,
“Yeah, there’s so many different things. It’s a completely different discipline to any other driving,”
he added.
He also reflected on his limited past exposure to events like the Daytona 500,
“It was always early mornings, I guess, or mid-mornings, but yeah, like I’d watch the race, but wouldn’t watch a whole one, you know, just the end.”
–@shanevg97 talking about watching Daytona 500 before NASCAR and plans for better oval finishes – Frontstretch
Gradual Progress and Racing Challenges on Ovals
Van Gisbergen’s initial season in NASCAR ovals was marked by a “deer-in-the-headlights” phase. However, by late 2025, he had grown more comfortable and synchronized with race weekend rhythms, improving his positioning in the field. His recent results underscore this progress despite some setbacks caused by race incidents.
During his final five oval races last year, van Gisbergen placed inside the top 15 on three occasions before misfortune struck. At New Hampshire, he was running inside the top five before getting turned on a restart. A week later at Kansas, he nabbed his first top-10 finish on an oval. Two weeks after that, again running toward the top 10, a restart disrupted his momentum.
At Talladega in the fall, van Gisbergen showcased his skill by rising from the back, leading the outside line multiple times, and nearly ending with a top-10 finish until a chaotic wreck on the final lap pushed him to 11th. These moments highlight how he has consistently raced near the front but has often been undone by unpredictable crashes or difficulty maintaining car balance through turns.
Adapting Strategy Under NASCAR’s Return to the Chase Format
Van Gisbergen entered NASCAR with a win-and-advance mindset suited to the elimination format, where a single victory guaranteed progression. With NASCAR reverting to the Chase playoff format and a reduced number of road courses, the stakes and approach have shifted. Now, accumulating points steadily on ovals is crucial to remain in contention through the longer playoffs that focus exclusively on oval tracks.
“Yeah, like I said earlier, that’s our goal is to just accumulate points now,”
van Gisbergen explained regarding the No. 97 team’s new approach.
You have to try and achieve as many points as you can every weekend, and it probably changes the way you take risks if you’re probably going to be like us, a guy trying to point our way in. So, yeah, I probably will approach it a bit different, I think.”
The 2026 season consists of 32 oval events, three road races, one street course, and four non-championship oval races. All the road and street events fall within the regular season, allowing van Gisbergen to leverage his strengths there, but the playoff battles will demand steady success on oval tracks. To secure a playoff spot, he must improve his performances on these venues, focusing on consistency rather than relying solely on a single breakout win.
Outlook for Van Gisbergen’s 2026 NASCAR Campaign
Shane van Gisbergen’s journey toward finding his footing on NASCAR’s ovals continues with cautious optimism. His steady improvement and increasing stability in racecraft suggest he is beginning to bridge the gap between road racing success and the unique demands of oval motorsports. With the new playoff format emphasizing points over wins, van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing plan to focus on consistent finishes rather than solely pushing for dramatic victories.
As he prepares for the 2026 Daytona 500 starting position of 37th, van Gisbergen aims to blend patience with progress, understanding that establishing trust and respect with other drivers will be as important as mastering the track itself. If he can refine his oval racing skills and avoid being caught in post-restart chaos, van Gisbergen may soon transform from a rookie outsider into a competitive mainstay on NASCAR’s oval circuits, making the 2026 season a pivotal one for his future prospects.
“It was always early mornings, I guess, or mid-mornings, but yeah, like I'd watch the race, but wouldn't watch a whole one, you know, just the end.”
–@shanevg97 talks about watching the Daytona 500 before coming to NASCAR and his plans to get better finishes on ovals.… pic.twitter.com/lm0COYO7nC
— Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) February 11, 2026
