Van Gisbergen ready for revenge

Shane van Gisbergen is hoping to continue his streak of NASCAR Cup Series road course wins, but there is a greater source of motivation for him at Watkins Glen.

In his first visit to Watkins Glen last year, van Gisbergen was on course for victory, leading on the final lap.

However, the Kiwi made the costly mistake of clipping the inside wall at the Bus Stop, which opened the door for Chris Buscher to steal an all-time win.

Having dominated that race, van Gisbergen is still smarting about the missed opportunity and is determined to correct the record on Monday morning AEST where he starts from second on the grid.

“I still get frustrated thinking about that race,” he said. 

“When I make a personal mistake like that, it makes me angry to think that I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was, and we had the fastest car all day, then to do that. 

“I really want to get there this weekend, make no mistakes, have a fast car and try an execute all day. 

“Which we have been doing on the road courses, and it will be good to continue doing that.”

Van Gisbergen has been close to unbeatable on road courses in 2025, having won the last three in the Cup Series at Mexico, Chicago and Sonoma.

Last start in Sonoma SVG was hardly challenged, while in Mexico he won by a record margin.

“I think it’s just been time on the road courses, learning what we want from the car, changing our philosophy,” he said. 

“We’ve really clicked on the road course set up and made our cars a lot better. On the ovals too, we are getting better as team.

“(In Mexico) We just executed as a team, we had good pit stops, good strategy and obviously a fast car, which that is the best thing you could have. 

“Chicago and Sonoma were great too, but with Mexico (City) being our team’s first win of the season, it just sticks out to me a bit more.”

Watkins Glen is a track with plenty of Australian history.

It was the scene where Alan Jones was crowned Formula 1 World Champion when he won the United States Grand Prix in 1980.

Meanwhile, it also witnessed the very best of Marcos Ambrose in the NASCAR world as he took both of his famous Cup Series wins there in addition to four Nationwide successes.

Despite being a Kiwi, van Gisbergen is determined to add more Supercars success to it.

“It’s a really cool track. It’s like Phillip Island with walls,” he said.

“I feel like it reminds me of that track in Australia. It’s so fast and flowing. 

“We were just having a little walk around and the surface has held up really well for how old it is now. 

“It’s a proper ‘tighten-your-belts’ type road course with no room for error. 

“The walls are so close and it’ll bite you really hard. 

“When you get in a good rhythm here and you can flow the car and try not to use the tire, it’s one of the best feelings in a race car ever around here. 

“Just got to not hit the bus stop wall this year and I’ll be fine.”

The driver who beat SVG in a wild and crazy Xfinity Series race, Connor Zilisch, was supposed to be involved in a rematch in the Cup Series.

However, the youngster unfortunately broke his collarbone after a Victory Lane celebration went horribly wrong.

The Go Bowling at The Glen begins at 4.00 AEST.

Image: HHP/Blake Harris

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