It was a little more than a year ago NASCAR learned all about Shane van Gisbergen.
A three-time Australian Supercars champion, van Gisbergen made his Cup Series debut in the inaugural Chicago Street Race. He did the unthinkable, winning the race to become the seventh driver in NASCAR history — and first in the modern era (since 1972) — to capture the checkered flag in their debut race.
On Sunday, van Gisbergen will be back in the Windy City to defend his title in the second Chicago Street Race, the Grant Park 165. He then will head to Pocono Raceway in Long Pond for the first time to compete in the Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday at 3 p.m.
“I’ll have to look it up on a map, I have no idea where it (Pocono) is,” van Gisbergen said. “I’ve heard it’s cool and very unique with three curves and three corners. It will be a new experience for me.”
Everything is a new experience for the driver known as SVG.
In Australian Supercars, van Gisbergen ranks fourth in career wins with 81. He also has 46 poles and was champion in 2016, 2021 and 2022.
Through Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 program, which gives international stars a chance to compete in NASCAR, van Gisbergen got his shot in Chicago.
It was supposed to be a one-race deal. Winning, however, changed that. He decided to pursue a full-time career in NASCAR.
“Coming over here I thought it would be a one-off,” van Gisbergen said. “My life changed 180 degrees in that moment. It’s been an amazing experience. I am thankful to Trackhouse and (owner) Justin Marks for the opportunity.
“I am 100 percent having a ball. It’s been a huge career change, moving from New Zealand to here. This is different than anything I’ve driven. I’ve only done Supercars all my life.”
Following his victory in Chicago, he signed a developmental deal with Trackhouse and did another Cup race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, finishing 10th.
This year, Kaulig Racing and Trackhouse formed a partnership for van Gisbergen to run the full Xfinity Series 2024 schedule in the No. 97 Chevrolet as well as a limited Cup Series schedule.
He has run three Cup races — Circuit of the Americas, where he finished 20th; Talladega and Charlotte, where he finished 28th in each. Sunday’s Chicago street race is his next Cup race. He also is scheduled to run at Watkins Glen on Sept. 15, Talladega again Oct. 6 and Las Vegas on Oct. 20.
As for the Xfinity Series, he won back-to-back road course races at Portland and Sonoma, qualifying him for the playoffs over the final seven races. He has one other top-five finish — a third at Atlanta — as well as a sixth at Phoenix. He also won a pole at Sonoma. His average finish through the first 17 Xfinity races is 15.8 and he ranks 13th in the series standings with 406 points.
“I feel I’ve been steady, getting better and better on the ovals,” van Gisbergen said. “We had some results early in the year and now I feel a lot more calmer and smoother. We’ve been getting some top 10s, top 15s. I’ve made a lot of progress and in the second half when we go back to some tracks, hopefully I can show I’m getting better.”
The biggest adjustment for van Gisbergen has been the difference in the cars. The Cup Series uses the “Next Gen” car, while the Xfinity Series uses a car that is more old-school.
“I’m comfortable in the Cup car,” van Gisbergen said. “But the Xfinity car is unique. It’s more like the classic stock car. It’s interesting how much the rear end moves around.”
Another adjustment has been learning new tracks, particularly ovals. Pocono will be his latest lesson.
“I do a lot of studying and lean on my team and my teammates as much as I can,” van Gisbergen said. “I look at previous setups to see what worked, what didn’t work and what suits me. I’m looking forward to it. It looks like a cool track.”
There are some who say Pocono drives like a road course. Could that be a benefit for van Gisbergen in his first visit to the 2.5-mile triangular track?
“I have no idea,” he said. “If that’s true, that can only be good for me.”
The Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 is part of the annual NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono that includes the CRC Brakleen 175 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race Friday at 5:30 p.m. and the Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
NASCAR AT POCONO SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
Friday
2 p.m. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice
2:30 p.m. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying
5:30 p.m. NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series CRC Brakleen 175
Saturday
10 a.m. NASCAR Xfinity Series practice
10:30 a.m. NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying
Noon NASCAR Cup Series practice
12:45 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
3 p.m. NASCAR Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 225
Sunday
2:30 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA
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