Shane van Gisbergen has already locked up the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year title as the playoff field is set, and his only rival, Riley Herbst, is out of the race for the championship. The New Zealand driver has four wins this season, with big victories in Mexico City, Sonoma, Chicago, and Watkins Glen, showing he can win on many different tracks.
His Mexico City win was huge, with the biggest margin in a Cup race since 2009, and he later defended his Chicago Street Course victory from last year, even sweeping both the Xfinity and Cup races in the same weekend, per Dustin Long of NBC Sports.
Herbst’s crash at Daytona ended his playoff hopes, leaving van Gisbergen as the only rookie in the postseason and the clear winner of the award. Despite facing travel problems and sickness earlier in the year, he bounced back strong and proved he can compete with the top names in the sport.
Now, while the Rookie of the Year trophy is his no matter what happens, van Gisbergen has his eyes on something bigger: making a run at the NASCAR championship.
Van Gisbergen Learning Fast, Building Momentum for the Playoffs
Shane van Gisbergen’s Rookie of the Year season hasn’t just been about wins; it’s also about growth. After the Daytona race, he reflected on what the night meant for him and his team.
“It was awesome,” van Gisbergen said. “We set out and achieved what we wanted to do. I wasn’t quite a good enough pusher to help the No. 99. I would just get tight and bound up, and I couldn’t stay attached. But when we were out front, it was good. It was good to lead some laps and control some lanes. I learned a lot. We just have to keep building. It’s another solid result for this No. 88 Red Bull Chevrolet team.”
For a rookie, this kind of self-awareness is huge. Instead of just focusing on the wins, SVG is studying the finer details of drafting, teamwork, and lane control, skills that often take young drivers years to master.
Rookie Standings Breakdown: Van Gisbergen’s Path to Victory
Shane van Gisbergen has demonstrated why he is already a strong contender for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year award, even with 10 races remaining in the season, according to NASCAR.com. He started 26 races, scored four wins, finished in the top 5 four times, and made the top 10 in five races. He has had only three DNFs (Did Not Finish) and led 252 laps so far.
These results put him well ahead of the other rookies in points, and his playoff position gives him a clear advantage.
These numbers show more than just victories; they show consistency, skill, and the ability to handle tough tracks week after week. Even on weekends where he didn’t win, van Gisbergen stayed competitive, staying in the top 10 or top 5 and leading laps when he could. This combination of wins, points, and laps led is why he has already claimed the rookie crown.
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