Shane Van Gisbergen missed the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs not due to a single tumultuous night at Daytona International Speedway, but because of a cumulative points deficit across the entire regular season, according to the driver himself. Speaking to Motorsport.com, the Trackhouse Racing driver pointed to a season-long points struggle and manufacturer disadvantages rather than pointing fingers at the chaotic regular-season finale.
Evaluating the Regular Season Finale at Daytona
Entering the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, Van Gisbergen held a 31-point lead in the standings. He initially extended that margin by capturing a Stage 1 victory. That early success came after Ryan Preece was spun from the lead, allowing the No. 97 team to grab crucial stage points. However, the momentum shifted dramatically over the remainder of the race.
Preece rebounded to win the event, outscoring Van Gisbergen 67 points to 19 overall. Compounding the issue, Van Gisbergen was forced to pit from inside the top 15 due to fuel concerns, which ultimately trapped him in a multi-car accident that ended his night. According to Motorsport.com, the Trackhouse Racing war room faced intense questions over whether the car could stretch its fuel to the finish.
Strategy and Manufacturer Disadvantages
Crew chief Stephen Doran brought Van Gisbergen to pit road for a splash of fuel while equipping the car with fresh tires, hoping the rubber would allow him to carve through the field and recoup lost positions. The gamble did not pay off.
“I just think that we’re at a little bit of a disadvantage to the other manufacturers at the moment, fuel mileage wise, and we just had to pit there,” Van Gisbergen told Motorsport.com. “We probably would’ve run out of fuel. The guys that were close who made it were not driving Chevys so we probably need to improve there a little bit.”
Did you know?
Shane Van Gisbergen accumulated eight finishes outside of the top 30 during his regular season campaign, including a costly incident at San Diego where contact from Austin Hill on a restart took him out of contention for the win.
Looking Back at the Broader Body of Work
Despite missing out on the Chase for the Championship, Van Gisbergen refused to pin the blame solely on the chaos at Daytona. Hindsight offers clarity, but the driver emphasized that missed opportunities over the span of more than 20 races carried far more weight.
“And I could have managed it a little bit over the stage. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I could have done a better job,” Van Gisbergen said to Motorsport.com. “But like I said on Saturday night, one night of the season isn’t why we didn’t make it, because we didn’t accumulate points on the other 20 or whatever weeks, and I don’t just blame that one weekend for our failure, I guess.”
Validating a Full-Time NASCAR Career
Even with the playoff miss, the No. 97 program emerged as a solid performer among Trackhouse Racing entries, showing competitive pace on ovals compared to teammates Ross Chastain and Connor Zilisch. Van Gisbergen has firmly established himself as a full-time 38-race NASCAR competitor.
Reflecting on his transition to stock car racing three years ago, Van Gisbergen noted that validation is not his primary driver, though satisfaction with his progress remains high. According to Motorsport.com, he feels significantly closer to his teammates’ pace on ovals this year compared to his struggles adapting during his initial outings.
“I don’t really think of wanting validation of anything, but I certainly still enjoy it a lot,” Van Gisbergen said. “I really love racing up the challenge and winning with everyone every week. I feel like I’m closer to my teammates, which was frustrating last year.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shane Van Gisbergen miss the NASCAR playoffs?
Van Gisbergen missed the postseason because of a cumulative points deficit over the entire regular season—highlighted by eight finishes outside the top 30—rather than just the late-race crash at Daytona.
What caused Van Gisbergen to pit late in the Daytona regular-season finale?
Crew chief Stephen Doran called him to pit road because the No. 97 car was running short on fuel, a disadvantage Van Gisbergen noted compared to competing manufacturers.
Which team does Shane Van Gisbergen drive for in the NASCAR Cup Series?
He drives the No. 97 entry for Trackhouse Racing.
Stay Updated on NASCAR News
What do you think of Van Gisbergen’s transition to full-time oval racing? Leave a comment below and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates from the garage.