Who Can Beat Shane van Gisbergen on the Streets of Chicago?
When it comes to street course racing in NASCAR, Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) has quickly become the name to beat. The New Zealand native stunned the motorsports world with his historic debut Cup Series win on the Chicago streets in 2023 — the first driver in 60 years to win their first NASCAR start. He followed it up with strong road and street course performances, proving it wasn’t a fluke. Now, as NASCAR returns to Chicago in 2025, the big question looms: Can anyone take him down?
Here are a few contenders with the skill, experience, and grit to challenge SVG on Chicago’s technical, unforgiving layout:
1. Tyler Reddick
If there’s a driver who thrives on rhythm-based tracks, it’s Reddick. With multiple road course wins to his name and aggressive precision in cornering, he has the tools to beat SVG. His performance at COTA and the Indy Road Course shows he knows how to navigate tight, technical circuits — and he won’t back down from a street fight.
2. Christopher Bell
Bell is one of the most underrated road course racers in the field. He’s smart, smooth, and methodical — a dangerous combination on a course like Chicago where mistakes are costly. Bell’s ability to conserve tires and stay clean could give him an edge if the race turns chaotic (as it often does).
3. Michael McDowell
A true road course veteran, McDowell has quietly built a reputation as a street and road course menace. He won at Indy in 2023 and always runs well in these conditions. With nothing to lose and everything to prove, he could be a spoiler.
4. Kyle Larson
Never count out Larson. While his raw speed sometimes works against him on street courses (where patience matters), he’s constantly adapting. With pole position in Chicago last year and consistent top-10s on road courses, he’s poised for a breakthrough.
5. Alex Bowman
The defending winner from 2024, Bowman proved he can close on the streets. While he may not be the flashiest driver, he’s smooth under pressure and has the confidence from last year’s win to go toe-to-toe with SVG.
SVG is the gold standard right now on the streets — a master of braking, car control, and calculated aggression. But as NASCAR’s stars adapt to this new style of racing, the gap is closing. The 2025 Chicago Street Race might just be the showdown we’ve all been waiting for.
