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WATKINS GLEN, NEW YORK - AUGUST 09: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on August 09, 2025 in Watkins Glen, New York. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Shane van Gisbergen has raised fresh concern ahead of Watkins Glen weekend after NASCAR installed a new tire barrier at the famous Turn 5 Carousel. The change comes ahead of the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen race and has already sparked debate across NASCAR news outlets.
NASCAR added the 68-meter tire wall to stop drivers from running wide at the corner exit and gaining an advantage before entering the Chute. However, van Gisbergen believes the setup could create a dangerous situation during high-speed racing.
The New Zealand driver, who became one of NASCAR’s top road-course racers during his rookie season, warned that the barrier’s angle could send cars back into traffic. As teams prepare for practice sessions at Watkins Glen International ahead of Sunday’s race, the NASCAR Watkins Glen barrier has become one of the biggest talking points in the garage.
Shane van Gisbergen openly questioned the new NASCAR Watkins Glen barrier during media sessions before the race weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series driver warned that the angle of the tire wall could create violent rebounds if a car hits it at speed.
“The way that wall is angled, it’s going to grab cars and spit them out back into the middle of the track.”
He also explained why the setup worries him from a road-racing standpoint.
“In road racing, you want a barrier that either absorbs the impact or guides the car along it. This setup, especially how close it gets to the racing line, feels like a trap.”
The NASCAR Watkins Glen barrier starts around six meters from the edge of the track before narrowing sharply. Near the end of the section, the wall sits only 1.5 meters from the rumble strip. Drivers accelerate hard through that area while entering the Chute, leaving almost no room for mistakes during the NASCAR Watkins Glen weekend.
Van Gisbergen’s comments quickly gained attention because of his road-course success. Before joining NASCAR, he won multiple Australian Supercars championships and built a reputation as one of the world’s best road-course racers.
NASCAR officials defended the Watkins Glen safety changes and explained why the adjustment became necessary before the NASCAR Cup Series race weekend.
According to NASCAR, drivers repeatedly exceeded track limits at the Turn 5 exit in previous years. Officials believed the runoff area created unfair advantages and dangerous re-entry angles.
Amanda Ellis, NASCAR senior director of racing communications, explained NASCAR’s position.
“We had to find a way to police the track limits that didn’t involve subjective officiating or constant penalties. The tire wall provides a physical boundary that forces drivers to respect the racing surface.”
NASCAR believes the NASCAR Watkins Glen barrier creates a clear limit for drivers without relying heavily on penalties after the race. Officials also anticipate that the change will enhance consistency in the 2026 NASCAR season.
Even with his criticism, van Gisbergen praised other Watkins Glen safety changes. He pointed to the new tire bundles in the Turn 1 runoff area and called them a better solution because they reduce shortcut attempts without creating strong rebound risks.
The NASCAR Watkins Glen weekend already carried major expectations before the barrier controversy began. Van Gisbergen will compete in all three national NASCAR series during the event.
He is entered in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, and the NASCAR Cup Series main event at Watkins Glen.
The road-course specialist enters the weekend with strong momentum after winning at Watkins Glen in 2025 during his rookie campaign. That season, he earned five road-course victories and quickly became one of NASCAR’s biggest stars on turning tracks.
Now, attention remains fixed on the Turn 5 Carousel and whether the NASCAR Watkins Glen barrier will improve safety or create more danger once practice sessions begin. Drivers will finally test the setup at full speed, but concerns about the new barrier are not fading inside the NASCAR garage.
Dogli Wilberforce is a writer covering NASCAR, Formula 1, and the IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. He has also written for Sportsnaut, FanSided, Total Apex Sports, and Last Word on Sports. Wilberforce focuses on the NASCAR Cup Series, breaking down news, driver stories, and key moments with a clear, fast, and engaging style. His work connects headlines to context, helping readers understand what matters most in the sport. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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