Road-course racing prodigy Shane van Gisbergen has reminisced about his first year in NASCAR. The future full-time Cup Series driver for Trackhouse Racing went down memory lane and recalled his “amazing 12 months” in America’s most-watched motorsport discipline.
The New Zealander registered his first NASCAR race in July 2023 at the Chicago Road Course. He stunned everyone after dominating the street circuit and posting a debut win at NASCAR’s Premier level. But before shining at the sport’s first street race in its 75-year history, SVG etched his name among the Supercars championship greats. He bagged three Supercars titles in 2016, 2021, and 2022. The 35-year-old also boasts three Bathurst wins.
The Kaulig Racing driver followed in his father, Robert’s footsteps, and aspired to be a race car driver since childhood. When SVG began Speedway racing, his father raced sprint cars, and the duo raced each other for a couple of years.
Shane van Gisbergen recalled his 12 months in the sport, outlined his transition, and what it’s like to race in NASCAR. He said (via X).
“It’s been an amazing 12 months. This transition, this opportunity come around at the perfect time. To experience different things and a new challenge you know, I’m at the age where I can still go to do another sport. I couldn’t turn it down. It’s pretty exciting,” SVG said.
The Xfinity Series driver then explained what he learned about preparing cars for the race.
“It’s been intense trying to get ready for something different. There’s just so many intricate details about things that can make a difference in how the car handles transitions into the banking. It’s amazing how much difference air makes at 300km an hour,” he said (0:36).
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“It starts here at the workshop where they assemble the cars here and ends on the racetrack, but there’s so many steps to get through, you know, not just the mechanics, but the engineers and the drivers as well, to make sure when we get on the racetrack, we’re ready to go. You’re always trying to build on yourself, keep ticking the boxes, keep making yourself better and improving,” Shane van Gibsergen added.
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Shane van Gisbergen will become teammates with Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez next year.
Shane van Gisbergen has become a title contender in his rookie Xfinity Series season
After SVG’s Chicago triumph and P10 finish at Indianapolis Road Course, Kaulig Racing landed a deal with him for a full-time Xfinity schedule in 2024. The 35-year-old didn’t disappoint the team owner and became a force to be reckoned with.
From 27 race weekends, Shane van Gisbergen has netted three wins, six top-5s, and nine top-10s. Notably, all his NASCAR wins thus far have come from road courses, not ovals. The #97 Chevy driver’s first Xfinity win was at the Portland International Raceway, followed by his consecutive victory at the Sonoma Raceway. He then reigned supreme at the Chicago Street race.
Though SVG was close to bagging his second Cup Series win at Watkins Glen, after a ferocious fight during the final lap, Chris Buscher took over and snapped his maiden triumph of the season, while the former settled in second.
Nonetheless, the Xfinity rookie’s dominant performance and P8 in the playoff opener race at Kansas have placed him sixth in the standings. Moreover, with Shane van Gisbergen’s road course racing in consideration, a surge at the upcoming Round of 12 finale on the Charlotte ROVAL is probable.
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