Tony Stewart is a one-of-a-kind driver. His versatility on various tracks, combined with his knack for conquering road courses, has established his NASCAR legacy as one of the all-time greats. Between 1999 and 2012, he missed out on a top-10 finish in the final NASCAR standings only once, showcasing his dominance. Legendary drivers like him serve as benchmarks for comparison, and Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) has been likened to him.

NASCAR insider Leigh Diffey is a play-by-play commentator for NBC’s motorsport coverage and has mounted huge praise on the Kiwi driver. SVG has had a great Xfinity series campaign as he sits in 9th right now with 3 wins and 7 top-15 finishes this season. He has also taken part in 10 Cup series races this year and finished in the top 15 three times, leading a total of 49 laps. What else?

Well, competing in a Cup car for the first time ever, SVG won on his debut at the Chicago Street Course last July. That was one of the two Cup races he drove as part of Project91. It’s evident that Van Gisbergen has the skills to compete at the highest level, but what likens him to Tony Stewart?

On an episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Leigh Diffey joined Freddie Kraft, Brett Griffin, and Casey Boat for a conversation about his favorite motorsport memories over the years. So, when SVG came up, the Australian-American commentator couldn’t help but acknowledge the 35-year-old’s racing ability. “His progression has been pretty astounding, I think,” Diffey said.

“You have to realize his level of racing IQ. I mean, that’s a guy who’s gone and done around the World Rally Championship and finished in the top 10. He could race V8 Supercars for so long, now he’s in NASCAR.” Shane van Gisbergen is more than just a NASCAR driver – the Kiwi just loves to race and has shown his skills all over the world. Known for his 15-year stint in the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand, he’s a 3-time champion (2016, 2021, and 2022).

Moreover, in the 508 races he entered in that time, he registered 81 wins, and stood on the podium 176 times. SVG has been racing since 2007 and his venture into NASCAR comes with loads of experience. The 35-year-old placed 7th at the Charlotte Roval, a very difficult track to drive on. The updated Roval is filled with daunting turns, and SVG maneuvered through them smoothly.

Diffey further said, “You could put him in anything and he just loves to drive a car, and I think, here in North America, we have so many examples of great drivers who were diverse. Mario Andretti, Tony Stewart, AJ Foyt… the list goes on. Now, in the modern era: Kyle Larson. Shane’s cut from that same cloth.”

Huge praise coupled with massive expectations from Diffey, who feels SVG and Stewart are made from the same stuff. The part where this comparison starts to make sense is when you look at road courses. Tony Stewart is one of the greatest road course racers the sport has ever seen. His mastery of the Watkins Glen circuit is remarkable, with 5 wins and finishing in the top-15 twelve times in his 16 races at the track.

SVG has raced at four road courses so far in his NASCAR career and fared pretty well. He finished second at Watkins Glen behind Chris Buescher, another excellent road course racer. His three other races saw him finish in the top 10 twice, one coming with a 7th place at the Roval on Sunday and the 10th at the Indy Road Course in 2023.

Considering the racing ability he’s shown in the past couple of seasons in NASCAR, the Kiwi is set to make his full-time Cup Series debut with Trackhouse Racing next season. Jumping into the No. 88 car, there’s one thing he’ll have to work on: his qualifying. On the podcast, Brett Griffin praised SVG while also pointing this out.

He said, “Nobody progresses more during a race than SVG. He’s just learning [with every stage]. That’s amazing that he’s doing that with an Xfinity car.” However, with the competition in the Cup Series more intense, Griffin added, “Next year, he’s not gonna bee able to do that. If you don’t have your A-game for qualifying, you’re gonna be buried all day.” But seeing how well he coped with the pressure in his debut, it likely won’t take the Kiwi long to get up to speed.

SVG’s stunning Cup series debut

It’s not often you get to make your Cup series debut and instantly take home the win. In fact, it is so rare that SVG was the first driver to do so since Johnny Rutherford in 1963. His debut came about during the inauguration of the Chicago street track in 2023 as the No.91 driver for Trackhouse Racing.

SVG started third on the grid but made it to the middle of the pack by the second stage. He passed Justin Haley at Lap 71, but moments later, a crash between Bubba Wallace and Ricky Stenhouse Jr sent the race into overtime. A dramatic start to the Kiwi’s career as he held on in overtime to secure the victory. This was a proud moment for the Kiwi, who became the first New Zealander to win a Cup series race.

SVG entered NASCAR as a road course ringer and has demonstrated his value in that role. After comparisons with Tony Stewart, the sky is the limit for the Kiwi, but expectations will also rise significantly. With road course masters like Chase Elliot, Kyle Larson, and Chris Buescher amongst the current drivers, who do you think stands out on top?