SHANE van Gisbergen has noted that he is relying less on the simulator as a training tool, as he continues to learn oval tracks in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Within NASCAR’s top tier, drivers have access to a wide range of preparation options.

Outside of highly realistic simulators, drivers can also access an assortment of historical onboard footage, plus telemetric data from any driver in the field, thanks to the SMT data package that is freely available across the paddock.

While the field closely scrutinises SVG’s data on road courses, including inputs such as throttle, brakes and steering, the reverse is true on the ovals.

Coming into yesterday’s Richmond race, where he placed 14th, the three-time Supercars champion uncovered how his learning process had evolved, having now started in 27 Cup Series weekends to date in 2025.

“I try and study as many drivers as I can,” said van Gisbergen.

“Yesterday, I had the race on; watched last year’s practice, qualifying and race, and then had SMT up at the same time.

“That’s probably what I get more out of, I find myself sort of doing less and less sim and more video stuff.

“I find that sort of helps me more these days.”

During the Richmond race, van Gisbergen was notable in using a much higher line in the corners than many other drivers.

Coming into the weekend, SVG recognised two drivers in particular were in his focus – namely Denny Hamlin and his Trackhouse Racing stablemate Ross Chastain, with limited practice time curtailling any genuine opportunity to dial into the track pre-race.

“It’s just time for me, and even this week, like I’ve never been around this track in a Cup car,” said van Gisbergen.

“You see the fall-off in practice; it’s very tough to get up to speed straight away, so this week, I’ve kind of been studying Denny (Hamlin) and Ross (Chastain) the most.

“Ross’s car’s probably most similar to how mine’s going to be, so I’m trying to just see what they were doing with gears.

“You can change gears a lot here, and it changes the car balance quite a lot.

“You know, on different tracks, it might be different people who stand out, and I just try and emulate what they’re doing.

“But for me, it’s just time… I don’t know what it’s like when I’m out there, and no one knows what the patches are going to feel like at Turn One.”

Hamlin is observed within the paddock as having a radically different technique from other drivers, something which has come to the attention of van Gisbergen.

“His style’s very unique, the way he’s mainly using a different gear and stabbing at the throttle, and it’s just techniques I’ve never come across or needed to use before,” said van Gisbergen.

“But in NASCAR, there are so many different ways to get the car around the track fast, and I’m trying to be as open-minded as possible in changing my style, especially for a track I’ve never been to before.

“All these top guys have such subtle little differences in the way they drive, and it’s really interesting trying to pick things up because I’m sort of like a clean sheet of paper with oval driving, so trying to find a style that works for me.”

This weekend, the regular season for the NASCAR Cup Series rounds out with a wildcard race at Daytona International Speedway, with 14 of the 16 playoff slots accounted for by drivers who have already won this season.

With a left-field winner always a possibility on superspeedways, currently in on points are Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman.