Chris Buescher, winner of the Watkins Glen Cup, was clear about the final lap of Sunday’s race, stating, “I didn’t think anything was dirty in the end.” Buescher, who faced the road course racing legend Shane van Gisbergen, managed to seize the lead due to a “driver error” on SVG’s part. Despite the mistake, van Gisbergen did not resort to desperate measures, a behavior that earned praise from Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Shane van Gisbergen, who entered NASCAR from his Supercars background, brought with him a racing philosophy that contrasts sharply with the aggressive tactics often seen in NASCAR. He was taken aback by the frequent on-track incidents where drivers aggressively jostle for position. Earnhardt Jr. has pointed out that this aggressive style is something NASCAR needs to address, while highlighting SVG’s commitment to clean racing.
The NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series can see intense and chaotic racing. This year, incidents like Carson Hocevar wrecking Corey Heim in the Truck series and Austin Hill’s rough interactions with SVG at Xfinity COTA exemplify how easily things can spiral out of control. This contrasts with the Supercars series, where a rule change in 2021 imposed penalties for dragging dirt onto the track, even if the action was accidental rather than deliberate. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has noted these differences and the challenge SVG faces in adapting to NASCAR’s more tumultuous environment.
In a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt Jr. praised SVG for his composure at Watkins Glen, despite the frustration of watching Buescher take the win. “He was like, ‘I’m gonna do all I’m willing to do,’ but that was it! That was all he was willing to do in terms of being physically aggressive,” Earnhardt Jr. noted. SVG’s experience in Supercars, where strict rules prevent drivers from making contact, contrasts sharply with the more physical racing in NASCAR. Earnhardt Jr. highlighted that in Supercars, there is little tolerance for aggressive driving, which SVG found surprising when transitioning to NASCAR’s less regulated environment.
Earnhardt Jr. hopes that NASCAR will adopt some of the more disciplined approaches seen in Supercars. He believes that the current state of NASCAR, with drivers like Carson Hocevar and Austin Hill pushing boundaries, calls for more accountability. “I would love to see the younger guys coming up through the lower levels be held more accountable and NASCAR really take a stand on penalizing what’s seen as dirty driving,” he said. This could potentially lead to a shift in racing styles and expectations.
Despite Earnhardt Jr.’s and Buescher’s admiration for SVG’s restraint, van Gisbergen is no stranger to aggressive racing. In Supercars, where rules are stringent about corner cutting, debris, and team member behavior, SVG has still managed to deliver thrilling performances. In Australia, he is known for his hard-nosed racing style. During the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship, SVG’s bump-and-run maneuver at Tassie drew controversy. Marcos Ambrose, a dual champion and NASCAR driver, acknowledged SVG’s approach, calling it “breaking new ground” with its aggressive but fair nature.
When van Gisbergen capitalized on a mistake by Cam Waters and Will Davison, his aggressive move secured him the win. Ambrose praised this style of racing, noting, “The other drivers he was passing didn’t like it, but they couldn’t do anything about it once he’s made that move. He’s just breaking new ground on these passes. It’s quite exceptional. I don’t know what the officials will say about it, but I loved it. It was really hard racing, fair in the end, and everyone finished the race.”
This shift in perspective highlights how different racing cultures can be. While SVG’s aggressive style is celebrated in Australia, it faces challenges when applied to NASCAR’s environment. Following his recent setback at Watkins Glen, it is expected that SVG will return with an even stronger approach to NASCAR’s rough-and-tumble racing, further bridging the gap between the disciplined world of Supercars and the high-intensity NASCAR circuit.
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