Shane Van Gisbergen faces Watkins Glen without his perceived road-racing advantage, acknowledging a season-long struggle for Trackhouse Racing.

Watkins Glen, NY – Shane Van Gisbergen, the celebrated three-time Supercars champion making waves in the NASCAR Cup Series, arrives at this weekend’s road course event at Watkins Glen International with a tempered perspective. Despite his undeniable prowess on circuits that turn right, Van Gisbergen admitted following the recent race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) that his innate road-racing talent might not be enough to overcome the current performance deficit plaguing his Trackhouse Racing team.

His runner-up finish to Tyler Reddick at COTA, the season’s first road course encounter, was hard-won, a stark contrast to the seemingly effortless victories he secured in 2025. Van Gisbergen highlighted that the margin of victory in his previous successes felt significantly larger, suggesting a shift in the competitive landscape.

"That’s a hard one," Van Gisbergen stated during an interview at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. "We can’t magically go have amazing cars next week, right? So, I definitely think we felt it a bit as early as COTA that I definitely felt like I didn’t have a good car in comparison to last year compared to everyone else."

The reality for Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing in 2026 appears to be a more challenging season. While his road course acumen remains a valuable asset, the overall performance of the team’s machinery has not consistently matched the heights of previous years. This broader team-wide challenge casts a shadow over his individual strengths.

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"So, we’re not going to magically show up at Watkins Glen and have the best cars; we need to definitely get better," Van Gisbergen continued. "It’s been a difficult season, especially the last few weeks for everyone, but I also enjoy the grind of trying to get better."

The sentiment of frustration was palpable when discussing the current pace. "It’s frustrating not being fast and we do need to get better," he added. This admission underscores the internal drive within Van Gisbergen to improve, even when faced with technical limitations.

Despite these challenges, Van Gisbergen has shown resilience. He currently sits 19th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, a significant improvement from his previous season’s trajectory, indicating a growing familiarity with oval racing at the highest level of stock car competition. He is also in close proximity to his veteran teammate Ross Chastain, trailing him by just 16 points.

However, the comparison with Chastain’s current standing further illustrates the team’s broader performance narrative. Chastain, in 18th place, has secured only two top-10 finishes on superspeedways in the 2026 season. This statistic points to a systemic challenge rather than an individual driver’s underperformance, suggesting that the cars provided by Trackhouse Racing have not been as competitive across the board as in prior seasons.

Van Gisbergen elaborated on the specific deficiencies he experienced at COTA, which prevented him from dominating as he had in the past. "It was just everything," he explained. "I didn’t have turn, drive or power, and those are the three things you need. It made it difficult at COTA and we struggled in qualifying so that’s frustrating." This detailed breakdown highlights the fundamental aspects of car performance that were lacking.

To remain competitive and contend for a spot in the Chase for the Championship, Van Gisbergen must capitalize on the remaining road course events. The playoff format in 2026 has evolved, and while the "win and you’re in" component remains, the emphasis on accumulating points is heightened. This puts additional pressure on Van Gisbergen to maximize his performance at road courses like Watkins Glen, where he has historically excelled.

"Yeah, of course, but I think it’s that expectation you have to manage," Van Gisbergen acknowledged when asked about the pressure to win. "As I said, we’re not going to turn up and have magically the fastest cars, you know, that comes through hard work, not just putting good road course drivers in it. So yeah, we aren’t just showing up and expecting to win, but hopefully we’re good."

This statement reflects a mature understanding of the sport’s dynamics, balancing personal ambition with team realities. The upcoming race at Watkins Glen International, a track steeped in road racing history and known for its technical demands, will be a crucial test for both Van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing as they navigate the remainder of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The team’s ability to extract more performance from their machinery will be as vital as Van Gisbergen’s celebrated driving skills in determining their success on the challenging upstate New York circuit.

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