![\"Van](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/571374459_18535283599017655_5421267224922074967_n-copy.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen at Martinsville Speedway.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen at Martinsville Speedway.<\/p>\n
Stock car racing\u2019s half-mile paperclip is one of the toughest on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s unique in that it has just 12 degrees of banking and a mix of concrete on the corners and asphalt on the straights.<\/p>\n
A flying lap takes 20 seconds, give or take, and requires a unique technique and car setup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an odd track,\u201d van Gisbergen said, speaking on the Motor Racing Network.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it would race like a road course with two hairpins, but it really doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way the cars are set up just to turn left, a general road course technique of a hairpin makes no sense at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way you have to drive it is very different to a road course.\u201d<\/p>\n
From three Cup Series starts at Martinsville, van Gisbergen has a career-best finish of 12th on debut in 2024<\/a> with Kaulig Racing in the #16 Chevrolet Camaro.<\/p>\n He battled handling issues upon his return with Trackhouse Racing at the start of 2025, but lost a wheel mid-race on his #88 car that meant he finished six laps down in 34th.<\/a><\/p>\n However, his most recent Martinsville race bore better results \u2013 starting 22nd and finishing 14th.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it is one of my better tracks, but I\u2019m still learning that technique and how to drive a corner like that with the setups,\u201d van Gisbergen explained.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a fun little race track. It\u2019s really cool when your car is working for you well and you can move around a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Shane van Gisbergen at Martinsville Speedway.<\/p>\n Martinsville is noteworthy for being quite chaotic at times, something van Gisbergen isn\u2019t keen to get involved with.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t enjoy it when it gets crazy like the green-white-chequereds and everyone drives like idiots,\u201d van Gisbergen laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it\u2019s general racing, I find it\u2019s really fun. You can pass and set people up or bump them if you need to. When it goes crazy it\u2019s a bit overboard. I like the track.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI try not to get involved in that stuff,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI try not to be too rough or let people rough me up as well. I try not to. It\u2019s just so different to my background. I\u2019m not used to being allowed to do that stuff still. It\u2019s still a pretty big adjustment.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of the stuff you see at Martinsville over the years, you\u2019d be banned for a long time if you did that at home (in Supercars).\u201d<\/p>\n The Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway takes place on Monday, March 30 at 6:30am AEDT with coverage live and exclusively on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n Get the latest NASCAR news, stats, and US racing coverage at Speedcafe US<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Shane](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GbfbGD3a4AA9j0-.jpeg\")
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