NASCAR Star Shane van Gisbergen Embraces 'Happy Gilmore' Comparison

The Trackhouse Racing driver reacts to Brad Keselowski's analogy about his transition to oval racing.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:27pm

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NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen is embracing the comparison made by fellow driver Brad Keselowski, who likened van Gisbergen's raw talent and adjustment to oval racing to the fictional character Happy Gilmore. Van Gisbergen, a former Supercars champion, has found success on road courses in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season, but the challenge of mastering high-speed ovals remains a work in progress.

Why it matters

Van Gisbergen's transition from global road racing to the demanding NASCAR Cup Series has been one of the most closely watched storylines of the season. While his road course prowess has been evident, the comparison to Happy Gilmore highlights the ongoing challenge he faces in adapting his driving style to oval racing, which is a completely new discipline for the New Zealand driver.

The details

Keselowski made the analogy while appearing on the Dale Jr. Download, describing van Gisbergen's raw talent, particularly on road courses, while noting the ongoing adjustment to oval racing. 'SVG was kind of like Happy Gilmore, if he could learn how to putt. You know what I mean?' Keselowski stated. 'He's got this massive drive, he could get to the green like. If he could just learn how to putt, which is, like the ovals. That's exactly what's going through my mind.'

  • Van Gisbergen joined Trackhouse Racing full-time for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The players

Shane van Gisbergen

A former Supercars champion who is making the transition to the NASCAR Cup Series, known for his raw talent and success on road courses.

Brad Keselowski

A NASCAR driver who made the analogy comparing van Gisbergen's driving style to the fictional character Happy Gilmore.

Jeff Gluck

The host of The Gluckcast, where van Gisbergen discussed Keselowski's comments.

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What they’re saying

“SVG was kind of like Happy Gilmore, if he could learn how to putt. You know what I mean? He's got this massive drive, he could get to the green like. If he could just learn how to putt, which is, like the ovals. That's exactly what's going through my mind.”

— Brad Keselowski, NASCAR Driver

“I actually saw that on Twitter a couple of times last year, people saying similar stuff, but I saw that clip of his pop up yesterday. I thought it was pretty funny.”

— Shane van Gisbergen

“Your dad had that quote where he was just absolutely sure, he said, 'He'll get there, he'll find a way winning these ovals. He'll be fine.'”

— Jeff Gluck, Podcast Host

“I try not to read into it and just focus on my own stuff. But it's tough. This is a completely different discipline, or different sport to anything I've done, you know?”

— Shane van Gisbergen

“But I feel that, I keep saying, I feel these, like, light bulb moments every week. Still things are clicking. I'm still getting better and better. I can see where it is now.”

— Shane van Gisbergen

What’s next

Van Gisbergen will look to continue his improvement on the oval tracks as he gains more experience in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The takeaway

Shane van Gisbergen's transition from global road racing success to the demands of the NASCAR Cup Series has been a closely watched storyline, with the 'Happy Gilmore' comparison highlighting the ongoing challenge he faces in adapting his driving style to oval racing. However, those close to him remain confident that he will eventually figure it out and find success on NASCAR's high-speed ovals.