SHANE van Gisbergen has reacted to the recently announced changes to the NASCAR Cup Series, which in 2026 will see the former Playoffs format replaced by a return of the “Chase”.
The previous format fell out of favour with many in the NASCAR industry, as the concept of a single race to decide the title was deemed unfair.
“I think it kind of needed a change, but it’s hard for me, the reason I’m in the series is ‘win and you’re in’, right?” Said van Gisbergen to the Performance Racing Network.
“I feel like I’ve gotten better at ovals to where I don’t have to rely on it, but it’s certainly going to be an achievement to make that top 16.
“I think it’s a good target for us and something that is achievable.
“I think it rewards those top guys now that are always winning; they were the guys calling for it, I guess.
“For me, that’s more of a pure championship, so probably a good thing in that regard.”
One area of significant improvement for van Gisbergen last season was on the ovals, with a string of strong drives late in the year, with a highlight being a tenth-place run at Kansas.
“I’m going to all of these places for the second, third, fourth time, and I felt so much more comfortable at the end of last year, I think I read that we would have been in the top-16 or right in it, and we would have been 25th or 58th in points halfway through the year, it felt like,” said van Gisbergen.
“We had a really bad start to the year and still made it, so maybe we can do the same this year.
“It would be really cool to start a lot stronger.”
The NASCAR Cup Series season kicks off next weekend with the non-points-paying Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, although early weather forecasts are pointing to the possibility of winter storms.
