As NASCAR drivers prepare for another intense showdown on the Chicago Street Course, Joey Logano didn’t hold back when asked about the mental and physical demands of racing on such a technical layout.
The Chicago Street Course is one of NASCAR’s boldest new chapters. But for many in the Cup Series garage, it’s also become a harsh reminder of their limits, especially with Shane van Gisbergen looming as the clear favorite once again.
As the paddock gears up for the third running of the Chicago event, Logano, a three-time Cup champion, didn’t mince words when asked about the challenge of competing on tight, technical city streets against a driver who’s redefining expectations.
Joey Logano Says Van Gisbergen’s Shadow Looms Large
In 2023, van Gisbergen, the New Zealand-born Supercars legend, stunned the NASCAR world by winning the 2023 Chicago Street Race in his Cup Series debut, and backed it up with an Xfinity Series victory in 2024. Now, he returns as a full-time Cup driver and heavy favorite.
The numbers tell the story of van Gisbergen’s dominance on road courses. His street racing background from Australia’s Supercars Championship gave him an instant advantage that most NASCAR drivers simply don’t possess.
While Cup Series regulars have spent years mastering oval racing, van Gisbergen arrived with decades of experience navigating tight corners and elevation changes.
During a pre-race media session, Logano was asked whether navigating the tight, twisty circuit was more of a patience game than a pure speed battle. His answer revealed just how much pressure drivers are under when competing against someone with van Gisbergen’s elite street racing pedigree.
Logano replied, “Yeah, it’s easy to say that until Shane’s out there a second faster than you and you got to go put yourself in some uncomfortable situations, right? Like it’s easy to say that but you got to figure out how to go fast. And last I checked with this car, there’s no going fast in your comfort zone.”
For the Team Penske driver, the Chicago circuit is a perfect example of how far out of their element most NASCAR drivers are on street courses. The margin for error is razor-thin, and the pressure to match van Gisbergen’s pace forces even veterans to drive on the edge and often beyond it.
The psychological aspect can’t be ignored either. When you know someone has a natural advantage on a particular track type, it changes how you approach every corner. Logano and his peers find themselves pushing harder than they’d normally feel comfortable with, simply trying to keep up with van Gisbergen’s seemingly effortless speed.
Playing Catch-Up on Unfamiliar Territory
“You just got to be pushing outside of where you feel like you’re comfortable and this track’s no exception to it,” Logano said.
“If anything, it’s just a little bit more out of your comfort zone. Probably because we haven’t done it much, right? Like we’re not ‘road racers’ to speak of, right? There’s only one out there that really is. And so, all of us are in a way playing catch-up.”
The Team Penske veteran’s honesty cuts to the heart of NASCAR’s road course evolution. While the series has added more road courses to the schedule in recent years, most drivers still consider themselves oval specialists first. Van Gisbergen’s arrival has exposed that gap in a way that’s impossible to ignore.
With van Gisbergen’s rapid rise, street racing has evolved from a novelty into a brutal measuring stick. And for drivers like Logano, it demands adaptation, precision, and a willingness to race in unfamiliar territory.
The question now is whether NASCAR’s established stars can close the gap, or if van Gisbergen will continue to make them look like rookies on courses like Chicago.