“He finds that more real and relatable”: Leigh Diffey reveals the reason behind Shane van Gisbergen’s oval progress

In an interview, Leigh Diffey talked about his take on how Shane van Gisbergen was able to improve on oval tracks. The NASCAR broadcaster explained that the driver changed his preparation for ovals from simulation to in-car camera and race footage.

The road- and street-course specialist won five races in his NASACR Cup Series debut season. He also took home an oval win at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Pro Legends division during the final night of the Cook Out Summer Shootout.

Diffey, who has covered motorsport for years, addressed sceptics and doubts around Van Gisbergen's steep rise in performance and explained how the Kiwi driver turned that ship around over the past five weeks in a recent interview with Fox.

"He's been able to build a book with his engineers, build that package and in himself as a driver be able to go back to these tracks and say, 'I remember what I did wrong last time, this is what I'm going to be better.'

"He has changed the way that he prepares for them. He's no longer really doing much sim. There's a lot of in-car-camera watching, he finds that more real and relatable and whatever his program of learning is that he has implemented himself with his team, it's working on ovals."

Shane van Gisbergen won on the streets of Chicago in his Cup debut in 2023 with Trackhouse Racing's Project 91 and later moved full-time in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing.

The New Zealand driver won the Chicago Street Course, Mexico City, and Sonoma, Watkins Glen, and the Charlotte Roval. He also earned the 2025 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

"Gone up even more than what it was" - Leigh Diffey on Shane van Gisbergen's 'respect level' among NASCAR drivers

NASCAR: NASCAR Cup Series Championship - Source: Imagn

Leigh Diffey also pointed out the respect for Shane van Gisbergen among other drivers. NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett, who drove the No. 88 car in the Cup Series between 1996 and 2006, praised Van Gisbergen's improvement on ovals and branded him as the greatest road course driver in NASCAR history.

Kyle Larson also warned that other Cup drivers would be in trouble if the 36-year-old learned his way around ovals.

"The respect level for Shane has gone up even more than what it was, because he has shown them on a variety of ovals that he is now learning very rapidly how to drive," Leigh Diffey said.

Shane van Gisbergen scored a top-10 in the NASCAR Cup playoff race at Kansas and posted solid top-15 finishes at Charlotte, Richmond, Talladega, and Martinsville this season. The Trackhouse Racing driver has extended his contract for multiple years and will return to the Cup Series in the No. 97 Chevy in 2026.