‘It’s tough,’ Ross Chastain admits he can't master Shane van Gisbergen's right-foot braking technique after Watkins Glen

Ross Chastain has come clean about his inability to replicate teammate Shane van Gisbergen’s elite right-foot braking technique, calling the New Zealander the best road course driver of his generation after another humbling weekend at Watkins Glen. The admission highlights the gap that still exists, even among top talent, in NASCAR’s evolving road-course battles. While Chastain pushed hard in the No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet, van Gisbergen’s unique footwork and racecraft delivered a commanding victory, underscoring why SVG has quickly become the benchmark on twisty tracks.

According to reports from NASCAR insiders, including Steven Taranto, Chastain didn’t hold back when discussing his efforts to copy van Gisbergen’s old-school braking style. He tried setting up his car similarly and experimenting with the technique, but muscle memory from years of left-foot braking got in the way. “It’s just muscle memory,” Chastain explained. “My feet are on the wrong pedals when I do it his way. I’ve learned my way, and at 33, it’s tough. I can do it intentionally for like a corner or three, and then I get to the next corner the next lap, and I go back to my way.”

This came after a frustrating race for the Florida native. Chastain won Stage 1 at Watkins Glen but faded to 27th overall following strategy missteps and incidents late in the going. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, charged from nearly 30 seconds back to win by over seven seconds, defending his track title in dominant fashion. Van Gisbergen brings a heel-toe, right-foot braking approach honed from his Supercars days in Australia. He uses the clutch to better control the rear brakes, rotating the car more effectively into corners while maintaining momentum.

It’s not just flair. This method gives SVG an edge in maintaining speed through the braking zones on road courses, where precision separates the good from the great. Chastain, racing in his fifth full Cup season with Trackhouse, has been vocal about the challenge: “Yeah, it’s humbling to know how much faster he is. He’s the best. He’s the best of the generation that I’ve raced against, for sure, of anybody I’ve ever been on track with on a road course in these cars.”

1. The Watkins Glen Weekend in Focus

2. History and Context of the Rivalry

Chastain and van Gisbergen have shared the Trackhouse garage since SVG joined full-time. Their styles differ sharply: Chastain’s bump-and-run aggression versus SVG’s smooth, technical precision. Van Gisbergen’s path to NASCAR stardom includes three Supercars titles. The 2023 Chicago street course win changed his reputation. Now in 2026, he’s piling up accolades. Chastain, a veteran of ovals and short tracks, continues to refine his road-course game. The points battle remains tight for both. With the regular season marching on, every road course presents an opportunity for SVG to shine and for Chastain to close the technical gap. Their teamwork could prove vital if Trackhouse uses SVG’s strengths to build Chastain’s consistency.

3. What’s Next for Chastain, SVG, and Trackhouse

The NASCAR schedule shifts gears toward more oval-focused races like Dover, where traditional braking techniques dominate, and van Gisbergen’s Truck entry sits out. That gives Chastain breathing room to focus on his strengths while the team analyzes Watkins Glen data. Expect Chastain to keep experimenting. He’s competitive by nature and won’t let the “humbling” experience linger without progress. For van Gisbergen, the focus stays on capitalizing on road courses while improving oval performance, where he’s shown flashes of growth. This storyline adds depth to Trackhouse’s campaign. Chastain’s candor reminds everyone that even pros have areas to grind, and the pursuit of speed never really stops. The next road course will tell us more. Can Chastain narrow the gap? Or will SVG continue setting the standard that others chase? Either way, the conversation around braking techniques and generational talent has gained new life thanks to these two.

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• Ross Chastain
• Shane van Gisbergen