One of NASCAR’s newest winners says the sport’s revamped championship format has already changed the way he approaches race weekends.
Shane van Gisbergen admitted Friday at Richmond Raceway that NASCAR’s updated postseason format has influenced his strategy this season, even if only in subtle ways. The Trackhouse Racing driver, who has built his reputation by racing flat out, said the emphasis on consistency has made him think differently than he did during his rookie campaign.
Van Gisbergen enters Richmond with two Cup Series victories this season and sits 15th in the championship standings. Under NASCAR’s revised format, he remains eligible for the Chase based on his overall body of work, even though road courses remain his strongest tracks.
Shane van Gisbergen says the new format changed his approach
Asked about NASCAR’s revised championship system, van Gisbergen acknowledged that the changes have affected his mindset.
“I guess initially, it’s probably a good thing for the sport,” van Gisbergen said. “I guess initially, I was brought over here for that ‘win and you’re in’ to guarantee a spot in the playoffs, so yeah, I certainly knew I had to get better at ovals, and I think we’ve done that.”
While he insisted his overall philosophy hasn’t completely changed, he admitted points have become a bigger part of the equation than they once were.
“I don’t think my mindset has changed every race. I think maybe these couple of races, I’m points racing a little bit, but the rest of the year, you’re just driving flat out. I don’t think I’ve ever really points raced trying to stay out of trouble. I think that when you’re not driving naturally, you find yourself in trouble. So yeah, I just try and drive every race flat out.”
The comments offer a glimpse into how NASCAR’s new format is reshaping driver strategy. Rather than relying almost entirely on race victories, consistency now carries greater weight, making every finish more valuable throughout the regular season.
Results show SVG’s oval improvement
Van Gisbergen believes the adjustment has already paid dividends.
After earning his reputation as one of the world’s best road-course racers, the New Zealander has steadily improved on oval tracks in 2026. According to NASCAR, he has already matched career highs with five top-five finishes and seven top-10s while setting new personal bests on traditional oval tracks, including fifth-place finishes at Nashville Superspeedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway.
He also opened Richmond weekend by winning the pole for Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series race, giving him the first oval pole of his NASCAR national series career.
With the Chase approaching, van Gisbergen’s comments suggest NASCAR’s revised championship format is already accomplishing one of its intended goals: rewarding drivers who can deliver speed and consistency across every type of racetrack rather than relying solely on race victories.