Shane van Gisbergen Claims Rookie of the Year Honors in NASCAR Cup Series
Shane van Gisbergen capped off an impressive first season in NASCAR by receiving the Rookie of the Year award at the season-ending celebration. Reflecting on his inaugural Cup Series campaign, van Gisbergen described the experience as “awesome,” highlighting the unexpected success and competitive performance.
Van Gisbergen entered the Cup Series with a standout debut victory in Chicago and spent a significant portion of the season adapting to the unique challenges presented by the series, which differ markedly from the Xfinity Series. “I felt like I started at a pretty low level, a deer in headlights to start the year,” he stated. Despite initial struggles, van Gisbergen secured five race wins, three stage victories, and led 312 laps, culminating in a 12th-place finish in the final standings with a remarkable 92.9 percent lap completion rate.
The New Zealand driver noted the demanding nature of the Cup Series schedule, which runs from February to November with minimal breaks. “I wasn’t sure how I’d find it, and I’ve really liked it,” he remarked, emphasizing his enjoyment of the varying challenges presented by different tracks.
Assessing his performance, van Gisbergen showed notable progress on oval tracks. In the first half of the season, his average finish across 14 road races was 26.6. In contrast, his average improved to 23.2 in the second half, including a career-best 10th place at Kansas Speedway.
Looking ahead, van Gisbergen is optimistic about the upcoming 2026 season, where continuity within his team will provide a solid foundation for further improvement. “We have to keep building… and I feel like we’ll have a much better base to start from,” he said.
With a commitment to growth and performance, van Gisbergen is poised to advance further in his sophomore year in NASCAR.
