After dominating the road in NASCAR, Shane van Gisbergen wants to master ovals and make the Chase

Shane van Gisbergen turned 37 a day ahead of dominating the NASCAR Cup Series yet again on a road course. Before he spent Sunday “just carving everyone up” in his second consecutive win at Watkins Glen International , the knives were playfully out for the Trackhouse Racing driver. “My mates were all giving me (guff) yesterday about how I’m getting too old,” van Gisbergen said after his second consecutive win on the road course in New York.

“I don’t feel old. I felt like that’s one of the best races I’ve driven. It was pretty cool.

” His seventh career Cup win might have featured his most impressive drive yet. After giving up the lead with 24 laps remaining, van Gisbergen made up 23 spots and nearly 30 seconds in 17 laps. With his first victory since last October , he tied Chase Elliott for most road and street-course wins among active Cup drivers.

“We have a race car driver that is at a level that I don’t think this sport has ever seen before on these road courses,” said Trackhouse Racing founder and co-owner Justin Marks, who gave the driver nicknamed “SVG” his chance at NASCAR with a ride in the inaugural Chicago Street Race three years ago . The three-time champion of Australia’s Supercars responded by becoming the first driver to win his Cup debut in 60 years. He has since been nearly unbeatable on road and street courses — winning six of the past seven races on the tracks with left and right turns.