Ahead of his first trip to the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, Shane van Gisbergen has put pen to paper on a multi-year contract extension with Trackhouse Racing to remain behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet.

The 36-year-old New Zealander has had a remarkable first full-time Cup season, winning in Mexico City, Chicago, and Sonoma whilst slowly creeping his way up the pecking order on ovals as he continues to learn the tricks of the trade on these uniquely American tracks. He also just shared his intriguing outsider perspective on the Cup Series playoffs. 

This announcement, made ahead of van Gisbergen pulling double duty in both the Xfinity and Cup Series at Watkins Glen this weekend, will tie the three-time Supercars Championship winner to the team through at least his 38th birthday.

For Trackhouse, this means two of its three charters are now sealed next season, with Ross Chastain expected to return in the No. 1. As for the No. 99, currently driven by Daniel Suarez, Xfinity Series leader Connor Zilisch appears the leading candidate to take over his seat, per Bob Pockrass.

Looking ahead, the key for van Gisbergen to continue his rapid ascent within NASCAR is for him to fully get to grips with ovals. Reflecting on his approach, he recently told Corey LaJoei on his Stacking Pennies podcast that he believes he’s likely “still too analytical with everything.”

“You know, everyone here seems very like I call it reactive, in the way they drive. Whereas I’m more proactive and know what’s going to happen and overthink things,” van Gisbergen explained. “Especially, like it helped me at Indy in qualifying, but some weeks it doesn’t, you know. People just full send here.”

Should van Gisbergen learn to master ovals, he could be a genuine threat in the fight for the championship, as eluded to by former champion Kyle Larson in July. “He’s still new to the oval stuff, so he’s going to continue to get better at that. And, yeah, I mean, if he can figure out the ovals, he’s going to be dominant,” the 33-year-old said.

And it appears van Gisbergen is on the right path, given that in late July, he racked up his first-ever oval win when he took the checkered flag in the Legends Cars Cook Out Summer Shootout season-ending race.

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He admitted at the time that racing in the Legends Cars, where he competes against good friends Bubba Wallace and Scott McLaughlin, had helped him get to grips with ovals. “It hasn’t hurt it,” he told Legends Nation. “It’s just been fun. I obviously learned some skills and Joe Ryan and his team, they’re great teachers. It’s just time turning left for me, it’s what I need.”

Van Gisbergen’s next opportunity to show what he’s becoming capable of on ovals will come after Watkins Glen when the Cup Series takes on Richmond Raceway for the Cook Out 400, before heading for Daytona for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 for the regular season finale.