Shane van Gisbergen is preparing for one of the most demanding stretches of his NASCAR career, highlighted by an ambitious three-series schedule at Watkins Glen International and a challenging return to oval racing at Texas Motor Speedway over the next two weeks.
Van Gisbergen will tackle a rare “triple-duty” programme at Watkins Glen, competing across NASCAR’s top three national categories in a single weekend. He is slated to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series — currently branded as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series — with JR Motorsports, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Niece Motorsports.
The packed schedule will see the Kiwi racing on three consecutive days — Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — marking the first time he has attempted such a feat at a single event. While he has previously competed in multiple series during the same weekend, stepping up to three categories represents a significant escalation in both workload and complexity.
The effort underscores Van Gisbergen’s rapid transition into American stock car racing. A three-time Supercars champion and winner of the iconic Bathurst 1000, he made an immediate impact in NASCAR by winning on debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race — becoming the first driver in decades to win their first Cup Series start.
Driving for teams aligned with Trackhouse Racing, he will face adaptability demands during the Watkins Glen weekend as he switches between different vehicles, race formats, and strategies within a tightly packed timeframe.
Before that, Van Gisbergen faces a stern test at Texas Motor Speedway, one of the more unforgiving venues on the NASCAR calendar. The high-speed 1.5-mile oval is known for its worn racing surface, limited racing lines, and contrasting corners — a stark departure from the road and street circuits where he has excelled.
Recent results have been mixed for the New Zealander. After climbing as high as fifth in the championship standings earlier in the season, he now sits 19th following a difficult outing at Talladega Superspeedway. His race there was compromised by multiple incidents, including a major crash mid-race and another on the final lap while running inside the top 10, ultimately leaving him classified 20th.
Van Gisbergen has shown steady improvement at Texas. In his previous Cup Series appearance at the track, he advanced from 37th on the grid to finish 22nd. In the Xfinity Series competition in 2024, he climbed from 33rd to 18th — further demonstrating his growing confidence on ovals.
Unlike the unpredictability of superspeedways like Talladega, this weekend’s format includes a brief practice session ahead of qualifying, offering drivers limited but valuable preparation time.
“Texas is a tough track, but I’m looking forward to improving as the weekend goes on,” said Van Gisbergen. “Each end of the circuit is quite different, so finding the right balance in the car is a real challenge. Practice will be important for getting comfortable and understanding how to maximise performance over a full run.”
As he continues to adapt to NASCAR’s diverse demands, Van Gisbergen’s upcoming schedule represents both a major test and a significant opportunity to further establish himself in one of motorsport’s most competitive arenas.
Header Image: JR Motorsports
