“It means everything”: Shane van Gisbergen gets real about becoming a NASCAR championship contender after Mexico win

Shane Van Gisbergen opened up about emerging as a legitimate contender in the NASCAR championship race with the Mexico win. The Trackhouse Racing driver reflected on his growth in the ovals and how the playoff bid 'means everything' to him and his team.

Van Gisbergen began the Viva Mexico 250 on pole and remained among the frontrunners throughout the event. He displayed his road course prowess by sweeping Stage 2 and further made history when he crossed the finish line 16 seconds ahead of the competition. The stat marks the biggest margin since Kurt Busch's 2009 win at Texas.

Sunday's (June 15) win locked a playoff spot for SVG in his rookie full-time driver Cup Series season, placing him alongside fellow Trackhouse Racing teammate Ross Chastain. Moreover, the triumph breaks a streak of results outside the top 10, dating back to his sixth-place result at yet another road course, Circuit of the Americas.

Speaking to the media post-race, Van Gisbergen shared his thoughts on breaking into the playoffs.

"Yeah, it means everything to us. That's essentially why I'm here, right? But I am getting better and more competitive on ovals. I said earlier, my average oval running position has gone from 85th to 10th to 20th or 10th to 15th on a good day," he said via ASAP Sports.

"Like we're really making a lot of progress and sort of not been forcing. I've been methodical, got better every week, and it's been really fun working with my 88 crew all year, but the last couple of months, yeah, it's been great to show some improvement and be competitive," he added.

The win bumped Shane Van Gisbergen three spots up in the driver standings. He currently ranks 30th with 242 points and 85 laps led, 60 of which came from his outing at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

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Shane Van Gisbergen is determined to prove he belongs in the Cup Series

Shane Van Gisbergen shared a candid take on his season so far, admitting how he needs to 'justify being a Cup Series driver'. The three-time Australian Supercars champion acknowledged his shortcomings on the ovals and vowed to get better.

"I'm here to win road races. But I'm not here to run last on the ovals either. I need to keep getting better to justify being a Cup Series driver. I need to be performing on the ovals, too," he said via ASAP Sports

Shane Van Gisbergen has gone through a trial by fire with the ovals this season, finishing outside the top 20 12 times across 16 starts. Nonetheless, the New Zealand native looks to maintain his momentum with the four upcoming road courses in the regular season, including the site of his maiden Cup Series win, Chicago.

However, the Trackhouse Racing driver faces a tough challenge ahead with Pocono Raceway, a demanding track with a unique tri-oval configuration. The race is scheduled to run on Sunday, June 22.