NASCAR Insiders Surprised by Shane van Gisbergen's Phoenix Finish and Points Position

The New Zealand driver continues to exceed expectations in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

NASCAR insiders Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi discussed the impressive start to the 2026 season for Trackhouse Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen, who currently sits fifth in the Cup Series standings after four races. Despite spinning out twice during the Phoenix race, van Gisbergen rallied to finish 11th, leaving the analysts surprised and impressed by his oval-track abilities.

Why it matters

Van Gisbergen's successful transition to full-time NASCAR competition has caught many in the garage by surprise, as the New Zealand driver was previously known more for his road course prowess. His strong start to the season has challenged perceptions about his oval-track skills and shown that he is a legitimate contender for the Cup Series championship.

The details

During the Phoenix race, van Gisbergen spun out twice, leading analyst Jeff Gluck to assume his strong start to the season might be in jeopardy. However, van Gisbergen managed to recover and finish 11th, a result that left Gluck and fellow analyst Jordan Bianchi puzzled and impressed. Bianchi noted that van Gisbergen's progress on oval tracks has not gone unnoticed by his fellow competitors, who are "in awe of his ability" despite his previous reputation as primarily a road course specialist.

  • After four races in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, van Gisbergen sits fifth in the standings.
  • During the Phoenix race, van Gisbergen spun out twice.

The players

Shane van Gisbergen

A New Zealand driver competing full-time in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing.

Jeff Gluck

A NASCAR analyst who discussed van Gisbergen's performance on the latest episode of The Teardown podcast.

Jordan Bianchi

A NASCAR analyst who discussed van Gisbergen's progress on oval tracks with Jeff Gluck on The Teardown podcast.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“After four races, SVG is still fifth in points. I mean, gosh, that's amazing.”

— Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Analyst (The Teardown)

“He comes back to finish 11th somehow. I have no idea how that happened. I literally have no idea how that happened.”

— Jeff Gluck, NASCAR Analyst (The Teardown)

“You talk to other drivers, and they are in awe of his ability, because they know how good he is.”

— Jordan Bianchi, NASCAR Analyst (The Teardown)

What’s next

The analysts noted that tougher tests lie ahead for van Gisbergen, with races at Las Vegas and Darlington coming up on the schedule.

The takeaway

Shane van Gisbergen's strong start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season has challenged perceptions about his oval-track abilities and shown that he is a legitimate championship contender, despite his previous reputation as primarily a road course specialist.