Van Gisbergen: From Star in Chicago to New Challenge in NASCAR
In July 2023, Shane van Gisbergen arrived in Chicago, unknown to much of the NASCAR community. However, his debut on the street circuit catapulted him to stardom, marking a before and after in his sporting career.The victory on July 2, 2023, changed his life. Two months later, Trackhouse Racing announced his signing for 2024. Van Gisbergen competed in the full Xfinity Series season, achieving three victories and participating in 12 Cup Series races. This success meant leaving behind a successful career in the Australian Supercars championship, where he was a three-time champion. Triple Eight Race Engineering facilitated his departure, releasing him from his contract. Van Gisbergen vividly remembers his first victory, describing it as the best moment of his life. This weekend, Chicago will host his third consecutive NASCAR event, possibly the last, as the contract is in its final year, although there are options to extend it. The circuit, with its 2.2 miles and 12 turns, runs along the iconic Michigan Avenue and crosses the bridge over Jackson Drive, finishing on Columbus Drive, in front of Buckingham Fountain. Van Gisbergen, an expert in street circuits, acknowledges the difficulty of the track due to the lack of escape zones.“It doesn’t seem like two years have passed, but a lot has happened since then. It’s incredible. We had a very strong car last year and had the potential to win again. I’m really looking forward to coming back. Obviously, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for that track. So it’s a very special place”.
Shane van Gisbergen
His triumph two years ago was a perfect combination of factors: a street circuit, wet conditions, and a car that suited his driving style. NASCAR’s Next Gen car has drawn comparisons to sports cars and Australian Supercars. Van Gisbergen has had to adapt to several aspects, including the weight of the car and how it takes corners. The differences between the cars are significant, despite the visual similarities. The biggest differences lie in the weight and the tires. When asked about which features of both cars he would combine, he described the current version of the Australian Supercar as “a piece of crap”, but praised the old Supercar, explaining that he doesn’t miss it. Currently, Van Gisbergen enjoys driving the Next Gen car as a full-time rookie in the Cup Series with the No. 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse. Although it has been a challenge, with variable results, he has embraced his new life and highlights the fun he experiences, learning every week.“Turn 1 and Turn 5 face each other, so you can’t have any run-off areas. It’s dangerous. You’re in the fastest part of the track and there’s a concrete wall in front of you, and it’s awesome. There’s a lot of risk versus reward. I think it’s one of the coolest things, but it’s difficult when you make a mistake. I think for a street track, NASCAR has done a very good job in its first time,”
Shane van Gisbergen
NASCAR is a sport unlike what Van Gisbergen was used to, and despite his experience in racing around the world, he feels that there is nothing like stock car racing. After his second victory in Mexico, Van Gisbergen is now in the postseason. Before that, he has opportunities for more wins in Chicago, Sonoma, and Watkins Glen. If he advances in the postseason, the Charlotte Roval awaits him in the second round.“That still excites me. It’s still fun to see us improve in areas and we still have many things we need to improve on as well.”
Shane van Gisbergen
“This is what I’ve enjoyed the most about my racing in a long time. Every week is a new challenge. It’s not the same type of track every week. Even when you go to 2 and a half mile circuits, they’re completely different from each other. So every week feels refreshing, which is great, and there’s always something to try, and the cars are constantly developing. It’s great”.
Shane van Gisbergen
