Shane Van Gisbergen blames a season‑long record of gaps, not Daytona’s derailing pitstop, for falling short of the NASCAR Chase.
What Happened at Daytona?
The 97‑car crew, led by chief Stephen Doran, entered the season finale with a 31‑point championship cushion and a Stage 1 win that pushed Dean Thompson’s Ryan Preece to eighth place after a spin.
But Preece captured the overall race, eclipsing Van Gisbergen 67‑to‑19 points overall. A fuel‑mileage shortfall forced the 97 to pit in the final break, draining a lead that might have otherwise mattered.
Van Gisbergen admitted the pitcall was a gamble. “If we had kept the fuel,” he said, “we probably would have run out,” noting that the Chevrolet cars were overachieving in the ceremony against non‑Chevy drivers.
Season‑Long Frustrations
The driver tipped the season with eight finishes below the top‑30, including a near‑victory at San Diego soured by Austin Hill’s restart wreck.
Despite the setbacks, the 97 has been Trackhouse Racing’s best performer on ovals, outpacing chassis mates Ross Chastain and Connor Zilisch.
Confidence in a Full‑Time Commitment
After a multi‑year stint in Europe, Van Gisbergen entered NASCAR full‑time in 2023. “I don’t need validation,” he said. “I love racing and winning each week.”
He added that closer ties to teammates, particularly to Daniel Suárez and Ross, have made oval driving feel less isolating, though he noted still having room to improve.
Key Takeaways for the Race‑Week
Analysis from the trackhouse points to a fuel‑meter quirk that can be addressed with better data. If the team converges on marginal gains, the next oval might offer a clearer win trajectory.
With the championship closed, the 97 car will focus on refining its fuel strategy against the same competitive sauce future races will bring.
"