Van Gisbergen Claims Rookie Crown, Eyes Playoff Push
By Andrew Clarke
Date posted: 28 August 2025
Shane van Gisbergen has officially locked in Rookie of the Year honours in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series, sealing the award with a points lead that can’t be overhauled.
The Kiwi sits on 2022 rookie points, ahead of Riley Herbst on 294. With the Rookie of the Year process calculated across the full season, the margin is unassailable, confirming van Gisbergen as the first Antipodean, and the first foreign-born driver since Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007, to win the award.
His debut season has been extraordinary. Four victories, at Sonoma, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Mexico City, have made him the winningest foreign-born driver in Cup history. His Mexico triumph was the largest winning margin in a Cup race since 2009, underlining both speed and control.
Two years ago, van Gisbergen shocked the sport with a PROJECT91 cameo victory in Chicago. Now, in his first whole campaign, he has gone from novelty act to genuine title contender. His oval performances have improved each month, making him far more than a road-course ringer.
Trackhouse Racing has recognised his value, signing him to a multi-year extension as a cornerstone of their Cup program. Team boss Justin Marks has been vocal about his belief that SVG can succeed on any track.
For van Gisbergen, the focus now turns to the playoffs, where he begins sixth in the reseeded standings. The Charlotte Roval looms as his trump card, a layout tailor-made for his skill set.
Regardless of how deep the run goes, his rookie campaign is already one for the record books: wins, records, a playoff berth, a long-term contract, and Rookie of the Year sewn up with races still to run.
Image: NASCAR
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