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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #16 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet, enters his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 31: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #16 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet, enters his car during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on August 31, 2024 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The rivalry between McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen has always been captivating. Both drivers regularly battle for top spots and sometimes clash on the track. Now, with SVG making the leap to NASCAR, McLaughlin’s words add extra weight. Fans are debating whether the Kiwi’s road racing skills will give him a clear advantage at COTA. While many NASCAR fans aren’t thrilled about the course change, McLaughlin’s comment serves as a reminder of the kind of competitor SVG is. He might just excel, no matter the track.
What has the change of the COTA track sparked after the 2024 season?
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Fans are fuming over a recent decision about the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) layout for NASCAR, and it’s got some heated takes. The big change? Instead of using the full 3.4-mile course, NASCAR will shorten it to the 2.3-mile national track, cutting out those long straightaways and shaving off a chunk of the action. The Cup Series race will likely run about 100 laps, while the Xfinity race’s lap count is still TBD.
Scott McLaughlin, who knows a thing or two about racing at COTA from his Supercars days, threw out a six-word warning for NASCAR fans, especially for Shane Van Gisbergen fans: “Shane Van Gisbergen gonna be all over it.” McLaughlin’s comment brings some heat because SVG, his old Supercars rival, is no stranger to dominating road courses, and fans are wondering if this shorter layout will give him an even bigger advantage.
We ran this track in 2013 when the Supercars went to Austin. SVG gonna be all over it 😂🫡 https://t.co/n30o6I39Mu
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) November 20, 2024
The decision, however, has left many NASCAR followers rolling their eyes. A lot of fans feel like it’s a step back from the excitement of the full course, and it looks like they’re bracing for a race that’s a bit less thrilling than before. Whether McLaughlin’s prediction about SVG coming out on top rings true remains to be seen, but for now, fans aren’t holding back their frustration.
Poll of the day
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Is NASCAR ruining iconic tracks, or is the COTA change a smart move for better racing?