Shane van Gisbergen adjusts racing strategy under NASCAR's new format
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 14, 2026, 10:52 PM
Last updated Aug 14, 2026

Shane van Gisbergen stated that NASCAR's revamped championship format is influencing his approach to races during the 2026 season. Competing at Richmond Raceway, he emphasized the importance of consistency over solely winning, adapting his strategy to remain in contention for the Chase. Van Gisbergen, who has registered two Cup Series victories this season, noted improvements in his performance on oval tracks, achieving five top-five and seven top-10 finishes. He attributed this progress to the revised points system, which incentivizes consistent finishes across various race types. Van Gisbergen's comments highlight the impact of NASCAR's format changes on driver tactics and performance expectations as the season progresses.
- •Van Gisbergen is 15th in the championship standings.
- •He has two Cup Series victories in 2026.
- •He has five top-five and seven top-10 finishes this season.
- •He achieved his first oval pole at Richmond in the Craftsman Truck Series.
- •NASCAR's new format emphasizes consistent finishes over just race wins.
- 10:52 PMYahoo Sports — Shane van Gisbergen Admits NASCAR’s New Championship Format Changed How He Races
"Shane van Gisbergen says NASCAR's new championship format has changed his mindset, offering a revealing look at how the Trackhouse Racing driver is approaching the 2026 season.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 11:49 PMNASCAR won’t race at Rockingham in 2027 amid ownership uncertainty- NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 11:43 PMNASCAR qualifying order for Truck Series at Richmond in August 2026
NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 10:57 PMNASCAR starting lineup for Cup Series race at Richmond in August 2026
NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 9:53 PMChristopher Bell finds the bright side of finishing second with the return of NASCAR Chase
NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 8:40 PMRockingham Speedway loses NASCAR for 2027
NASCAR•Aug 14, 2026, 8:27 PMRockingham falls from NASCAR schedule yet again
