By ZECH YODER
One of the biggest moments of the 2023 NASCAR season was Shane van Gisbergen’s (SVG) shocking NASCAR Cup Series wins at the Chicago Street Race.
Prior to the Chicago Street Race, SVG had never been in a Cup car, and though it was generally acknowledged that SVG might be capable of running at the front in Chicago, very few believed he could actually win. His win at Chicago shook the Cup Series garage, and some drivers expressed embarrassment over the shellacking SVG put on the Cup Series regulars.
After the race, SVG, a three-time V-8 Supercar Champion, indicated that he was interested in racing in America. Shortly thereafter, rumors began spreading and by the end of the 2023 season, it was confirmed that SVG had signed with a development contract with Trackhouse Racing and would be running full-time in NASCAR for the 2024 season. In 2024, SVG will run the entire Xfinity Series schedule for Kaulig Racing as well as seven Cup Series racing with Trackhouse Racing: both Talladega races, Circuit of the Americas, the Spring Charlotte race, the Chicago Street Race, Watkins Glen, and the Fall race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Trackhouse Racing is all in on SVG. As a brand, he is the biggest prospect in NASCAR since Chase Elliott entered the Truck Series in 2013. Sponsorship should not be an issue and we may see Red Bull re-enter NASCAR as SVG is a Red Bull athlete. The real question: what does success in America look like for SVG? Will he succeed in NASCAR?
At the outset, I believe it is important to contextualize his win in Chicago.
SVG had a massive tactical advantage. NASCAR had never competed on a street course; Chicago was the first. The Cup regulars had very little data or virtually no experience with racing on a street course.
Further, the weather played a significant factor. The race was delayed with heavy rains and the conditions of the track changed from wet to dry throughout the duration of the race, circumstances that Cup drivers typically do not experience. These two factors played heavily into SVG’s hand as he had experience with both street courses and wet to dry track conditions.
Finally, the NextGen car is similar to the V-8 Supercars SVG raced in Australia. I take nothing away from SVG, but he was put in the perfect position to achieve victory in Chicago, and he took full advantage, passing Justin Haley on a late restart.
To have success in NASCAR, SVG will need to master oval racing. In the past, few road racers found success in NASCAR. The last V-8 Supercar Champion to compete in NASCAR was Marcus Ambrose, who won two races (both at Watkins Glen) over seven years. To be fair to Ambrose, he was not in the best equipment, yet his performance on ovals with mediocre at best.
In the Xfinity Series, I do not anticipate that SVG will have immediate success. Though he does have some oval experience on dirt and has run sprint cars in Australia, he will be competing against drivers that have competed on many more pavement ovals. This experience cannot be underestimated.
If Trackhouse takes its time with SVG and does not rush him into the Cup Series, I believe SVG will adapt and enjoy success in the Xfinity Series.
On the Cup side, SVG is in a strong position for the seven races he will run in 2024. Don’t expect much from him at Charlotte or Las Vegas as these races are intended as learning experiences. However, I expect him to be fast at the road/street courses and Talladega. Again, he is in good equipment and has proven that he can beat the best on tracks he is used to running. I would not be shocked to see him win in the Cup Series this year.
So, what is the measure of success for SVG? I think a Cup Series Championship is a bit far-fetched but, given the inclusion of road races in the playoffs, a top-eight appearance is well within the realm of possibilities.
Only time will tell. He is in a great position to succeed.
Zech Yoder is a local resident, an attorney at Adler Attorneys in Noblesville, and a lifelong race fan.