Shane van Gisbergen weighs challenges of NASCAR vs. Supercars, reveals aspect he hates

Shane van Gisbergen made his name racing in the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand. However, he’s seen his star rise since coming to North America to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series.

With two wins under his belt in 2025 and three overall in the Cup Series, van Gisbergen is locked into the playoffs and ready to compete for a championship this season. After his latest win in Chicago, he joined Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, where he spoke with Kevin Harvick about some key challenges in the difference between NASCAR and Supercars.

“It’s probably more intense, because it’s every single week and the challenge is so different every week,” SVG told Harvick. “Like it’s not like you’re doing mile-and-a-halves each week, you’re doing a different style of racetrack every single week, and the preparation and stuff is so different. Also, instead of seeing two teammates’ data, I can see everyone’s data. So, it’s a lot more intense.

“On a road course, I hate it, because everyone can see my stuff and it’s all people seem to be talking about on the weekend. But especially when you go to a Pocono or a Martinsville, you study someone like Denny Hamlin, who’s amazing at those tracks, and the tendencies he has, or Chase Elliott at Martinsville. There’s some guys who really stand out. But when you go to like a Vegas or something, it could be anyone. You know, so there’s so much stuff you got to look at now.”

That’s an interesting tidbit shared by the New Zealander, and something that doesn’t come up immediately when thinking about differences between the two racing leagues. As for the car itself, SVG revealed that they’re similar on paper, but there are still some intricacies he had to adjust to.

“They’re similar on paper,” SVG added, regarding the cars. “But the way they drive, I think the lock-diff is the biggest difference. Having an open diff here makes a big difference. You know, you don’t have to — the technique was so unique in a supercar, with the heel and toe and running all the rear brake you could. It’s a bit opposite in this car. You run as much front as you can. People make a big deal out of the right-foot braking, but it really does nothing in this car.”

Alas, the NASCAR Cup Series is happy to have Shane van Gisbergen, as he’s certainly upped the intensity on road courses. He’ll have a shot at win No. 3 of the season this weekend in Sonoma, with another track-type in his wheelhouse taking center stage in California.