Shane Van Gisbergen is not your typical rookie. He is 36 years old and has been racing all over the world for over ten years. He has struggled at traditional NASCAR ovals in his first full-time season, but he has excelled at road courses. This has allowed Van Gisbergen to be eligible for the NASCAR playoffs. The only question remaining about this unusual rookie is simple. Is he the greatest rookie NASCAR has ever seen?
Van Gisbergen had 14 races in the NASCAR Cup Series before this season, including a victory at the inaugural Chicago Street race in 2023. He is still, however, considered a rookie and is eligible for rookie of the year this season.
NASCAR determines a rookie strangely, lacking an official clarification in the rule book. The general rule is that the driver must be a full-time driver who is competing for championship points. This is Van Gisbergen’s first time competing in the Cup Series full time; therefore, NASCAR has ruled him eligible as a rookie.
Van Gisbergen has been one of the most dominant road course drivers in NASCAR history. He has already gathered up three wins this season, all at road courses. He won his second Chicago Street race event, the first Mexico City race, and most recently the race at Sonoma.
Van Gisbergen has been so dominant that he has led nearly every lap. The only times it seems he is not leading the race are when he enters the pits and voluntarily gives up the lead. His destruction of the competition every week at road courses has set him on the path to becoming the greatest road course driver.
The record for road course victories over a career is Jeff Gordon with nine. With four already under his belt, Van Gisbergen has put himself in a great position to break that record. There are six road courses on the schedule, and if the competition fails to adjust, he could get a stranglehold on the record within a couple of years.
Van Gisbergen has tied a NASCAR record with three victories in his rookie season. The other drivers to accomplish this feat are Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson. Two of the greatest drivers ever have a combined ten championships over their incredible careers. Unlike Stewart and Johnson, he hasn’t won the grand prize. It’s doubtful he will ever win one.
Van Gisbergen broke a record with his fourth win at Sonoma. He broke the mark for the fewest number of races for a driver to reach four wins. It only took him 34 races to accomplish this, beating Stewart’s previous record by 13 races.
The difference between Van Gisbergen and the other two champions is simple. Stewart and Johnson were capable of winning any race on the schedule. This is the immediate counterargument to anything supporting the road course specialist. He isn’t competitive anywhere besides the road.
Van Gisbergen has been one of the greatest rookie drivers NASCAR has ever seen. Despite his struggles at ovals, his ability to win and dominate every road course event he competes in can’t be overlooked. His rookie campaign is comparable to only two other drivers, Stewart and Johnson, who are among the best of all time.
Van Gisbergen may not have the longevity other elite road course drivers have, but his instant impact has propelled him into the upper stratosphere. He may not be the overall greatest rookie NASCAR has ever seen, yet, but this rookie season is one everyone will remember.
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