Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #97 WeatherTech Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 250 at Sonoma Raceway on June 08, 2024 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
A New Challenge
New Zealand’s Shane Van Gisbergen has entered the 2024 NASCAR racing scene, transitioning from a highly successful career in the Australian Supercars Championship, where he won three championships. This year, he is competing full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the Chevrolet Camaro No. 97 for Cowlig Racing. Additionally, he races part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for the same team and participates in the ARCA Menards Series with Pinnacle Racing Group.
First Win in Xfinity Series
Shane Van Gisbergen has competed in all 13 races of the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, securing his first victory at Portland International Raceway last weekend. This win marks his second in a NASCAR series, following his triumph at the Grant Park 220 in Chicago last year. During the Portland race, a multi-car collision with eight laps remaining gave Van Gisbergen the opportunity to shine. After the restart, he overtook Justin Allgaier, who had been leading the race, to claim victory.
“What a day. It was really cool, had some great racing,” Van Gisbergen remarked. “I need to get better on my restarts and learn how to position. But I still had fun. Really, really cool racing. I love these cars. They’re great.”
With this victory, Van Gisbergen has secured a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. He reflected on the journey, saying, “It’s been a pretty special nine or 10 months since we started to do this. Pretty stoked to be now in the playoffs, back in victory lane again.”
Performance Highlights
Apart from his win in Portland, Van Gisbergen has achieved two other top-10 finishes this season, placing third at Atlanta Motor Speedway and sixth at Phoenix Raceway. However, he faced challenges at Circuit of The Americas, where a penalty for cutting corners relegated him from first to 27th place. Despite a series of lower finishes, his triumph in Portland has reignited his playoff prospects. Currently, he sits 14th overall with 303 points.
NASCAR Cup Series: Mixed Results
2023 Season Highlights
In his NASCAR Cup Series debut last year, Van Gisbergen made history by winning at Chicago, becoming the first driver in modern NASCAR history to win in his debut race. This victory also made him the first New Zealander to win a NASCAR race. He participated in only two races last season, finishing 10th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway besides his win in Chicago.
2024 Season Struggles
This year, Van Gisbergen has made three appearances in the NASCAR Cup Series, with less impressive results. At Circuit of the Americas in Austin, he finished 20th after issues with speeding on pit road and mechanical problems. His performance at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln saw him leading at one point, but he ultimately finished 28th due to collisions. A similar fate awaited him at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where penalties and damage from contact left him again in 28th place.
ARCA Menards Series: A Tough Start
Debut at Daytona
Van Gisbergen also debuted in the ARCA Menards Series this season, competing in Round 1 at Daytona in mid-February. Unfortunately, his race ended prematurely on the fourth lap due to a multi-car wreck initiated by Gus Dean. Despite the mechanics’ efforts to repair his car, Van Gisbergen finished in 29th place, far from his aspirations of victory.Source: Auto Racing
