Inside Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR Journey: Balancing family, home, and racing success

Shane van Gisbergen’s rise in NASCAR has been rapid, but the Kiwi star insists life away from the track, from his beloved dogs Ronald and Steve to precious family moments, is just as important as the wins.

Speaking on The Day After Podcast, the three-time Supercars champion reflected on the whirlwind past year, his father’s long-awaited visit to the U.S., and the tight-knit 88 team that’s delivering results under mounting expectations.

Ronald, a lively pup now approaching three years old, joined the Van Gisbergen household at the start of 2023 in Australia, when he was just five or six months old.

“We were looking at getting a dog for a while, and then, yeah, we didn’t plan to move to the States at that point,” van Gisbergen explained.

“We loved him and thought we couldn’t leave him behind, so we brought him with us. He’s an amazing dog. He’s been to quite a few races, and that was the first time we had him in Victory Lane. It was really cool to have him there.”

The name Ronald wasn’t his idea though.

“Jess, my wife, seems to have a thing for human names,” he laughed.

“All our animals seem to have human names, so it’s pretty funny yelling out. But it suits him.”

Ronald’s not the only four-legged member of the family. Last year, they rescued a small Australian red heeler named Steve.

“Yeah, he doesn’t travel. He’s a little menace,” van Gisbergen joked.

“We can’t take him anywhere. They’re opposites, those two dogs.”

The everyday side of van Gisbergen is far removed from the high-octane world of NASCAR. He drives a black Chevy Tahoe — “perfect size for Ronald” — and when it comes to music, his tastes range from house to ’90s and 2000s rock, even heavier bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers or Tool, depending on the mood.

He’s not a karaoke guy, though, and admits his culinary skills extend to “a decent steak” on the barbecue.

His favourite movies? The Waterboy for laughs, The Departed for something more serious.

If he could have a superpower, it would be teleportation, the fastest way to get home to New Zealand.

That longing for home has been especially present recently, as van Gisbergen’s father, Robert, made the trip to watch him race after battling health issues.

“He hasn’t been able to fly for a while,” van Gisbergen said.

“He wanted to come earlier this year but couldn’t. He’ll do the next three, Richmond and Daytona as well, and probably come back later in the year for the last couple. It’s so cool to have him here. He used to come to a lot of races when I was in Australia, so it’s pretty special.”

Having his dad trackside made his latest victory even sweeter.

“There was just everything, having the family there, Dad’s first race over here, and just another race of executing. The strategy was great, the car was good, and the pit stops were really good.

“The whole team rises for these weekends and doesn’t let the expectation get to them. We know we’ve got a great chance to win, but we just do our jobs and then celebrate afterwards. We’re a pretty tight-knit unit, the 88 team, so it’s really cool to share those moments.”

After his burnout, van Gisbergen famously high-fived his team along the pit wall, a move he first tried after his race win at Sonoma.

“I saw how excited they were, and they were already standing on the wall when I went past, so I went back the other way. As a driver, you get the accolades, but it’s such a team effort. It’s cool to have them involved and just have fun.”

The last year has been a bit of a blur for van Gisbergen. From his unforgettable Chicago street course win in 2023 to signing a contract extension, NASCAR has become a new home.

“I didn’t expect to be here a couple of years ago,” he said.

“I really enjoy it. Obviously, the road courses are great, but I love racing on the ovals. Some of the races where I’ve come 25th have been the most fun I’ve ever had. I love the challenge of being average and trying to get better. I’m really enjoying it at the moment.”

Adapting to Ovals and Embracing the NASCAR Challenge

Speaking with New Zealand-based podcast Sport Nation, van Gisbergen reflected further on his recent run of form and the steep learning curve that comes with mastering NASCAR’s diverse circuits.

“It’s been amazing the last couple of months,” he said. “We’ve really built up. I feel like our ovals are really improving, but the road courses have been so special — to win four now is cool.”

Ovals, as we know, remain the bigger challenge.

“You’d think two corners only would be easier, but the style of racing here is just so different. The way the cars react, the way they’re set up, the way they load into the corners, the banking, and then the speed we’re going, almost 300km/h at most tracks. Plus, you get hardly any practice, just 15 minutes a week, so you’re learning on the fly in the race.”

While his debut season with Trackhouse has been a fresh start, he says the move to NASCAR reignited his motivation.

“The V8s had gotten a little stale over there. I’d done it for 15–16 years. It was good to get a new challenge. I’ve actually enjoyed being below average at something and knowing you can get better. It’s been a really cool thing to do.”

Relationships in the garage have been positive, even with a growing target on his back on the street and road courses.

Relationships in the garage have been positive, even with a growing target on his back on the street and road courses.

He’s still struck by the scale of NASCAR, especially in its heartland.

“It’s almost every week that the places are packed. When you go to places like Daytona or Vegas, the speed and atmosphere are incredible. First lap at Vegas, you’re flat out at over 300km/h into a banked corner that looks like a wall, it’s nerve-wracking. I’m doing my belts up tighter than ever, but it’s such a rush.”

Some of his Supercars experience has filtered into his NASCAR program.

“There are a few things we’ve done with setup, braking, and pedal positioning that have helped me here. We do five or six road courses a year, so that’s still a big part of the schedule.”

With the playoffs looming, his focus is on consistency.

“It’s just time. We’ve improved a lot, but we still have a long way to go. Staying consistent and avoiding accidents should help us get through a round or two. Every win gives us more playoff points we can carry through.”

When talking about his new life in America, SVG described it as fast-paced but enjoyable.

“Where I live in Mooresville, it’s race city, everyone’s connected to NASCAR somehow. Around the rest of the country, you’re pretty anonymous. I enjoy it here, but I’m obviously homesick. Racing every week means I just can’t get home.”

The homesickness is eased ever so slightly for SVG by knowing how many fans follow his journey back home and the support he receives every week.

“It’s very humbling. Kiwis and Aussies support each other overseas, and I see Kiwi flags at a lot of tracks. Even on bad weeks, the support is amazing. I’m really thankful; it’s hard to put into words how much it means.”