Shane van Gisbergen message speaks volumes as | Sports News

Shane van Gisbergen performed it protected during Stage 1 of the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas as the new playoff format continues to have a important affect on drivers’ methods.

Back in January, NASCAR introduced the return of The Chase, which stood as the de facto postseason format from 2004 to 2013 and can place larger worth on consistency throughout the playoffs. Starting this yr, 16 drivers will qualify for the Cup Series playoffs, which options no eliminations and makes up the ultimate 10 races of the marketing campaign. Those who secure a race victory may also not obtain computerized entry into the postseason, thereby forcing groups to instill long-term methods moderately than counting on “lucky” victories.

The rule change created fairly the headache for Van Gisbergen, who emerged victorious in Saturday’s Focused Health 250 due to an unbelievable transfer within the closing moments of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. As a street course specialist, the “win-and-you’re-in” provision offered him with an simple path to the postseason even when he struggled to realize constant outcomes on oval tracks.

During the opening stage of Sunday’s Texas Grand Prix, Van Gisbergen appeared to have The Chase in thoughts when he opted to remain out on moderately than flip the stage. Upon being informed over the crew radio that the plan was to pit, the No. 97 Chevrolet driver responded: “Happy to take the factors.”

Van Gisbergen finally acquired his want, as he collected 9 factors by ending second in Stage 1 behind teammate Ross Chastain. Despite subsequently successful the race off pit street, he restarted down in sixteenth for Stage 2.

Speaking to reporters final month, Van Gisbergen acknowledged that the postseason format change — whereas vital — doesn’t precisely benefit him. “I think it kind of needed a change, yeah. But it’s hard for me. Like the reason I’m in the series is because of win and you’re in, right?” van Gisbergen stated.

“But I feel like I’ve gotten better at ovals to the point where I don’t have to rely on it. But, yeah, it’s certainly going to be an achievement to make that top 16. But 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, and they were the guys calling for it, I guess. But, yeah, for me that’s more of a pure racing championship, so probably a good thing in that regard.”

To his credit, Van Gisbergen has vastly improved on oval tracks with every passing occasion he competes in. “I’m going to all these places for the second, third, fourth time, and I felt so much more comfortable at the end of last year,” he defined.

“And I think I read that we would have been near the top 16 or right in it, and we were 35th or 58th or something in points halfway through the year it felt like. So we had a really bad start to the year and still made it so yeah maybe we can do the same this year it’d be really cool to start a lot stronger.”