If there is one thing NASCAR fans love and respect, it’s versatility. Now, Shane van Gisbergen is no Tony Stewart, but boy has he raced a lot. The Kiwi jumps behind anything and everything with four wheels. Be it Supercars (3-time champion), GT Series Endurance Cup (2016 champion), or 24 Hours of Daytona (runners-up), the list is long. But now, the world knows him as a NASCAR driver!

This versatility is what probably made him adapt so quickly to NASCAR. The last time before SVG that anyone won their debut Cup race was when Johnny Rutherford in 1963 (winning the Daytona 500). So clearly he can drive anywhere. And with a splendid Xfinity Series behind him (3 wins), He’s ready to be “thrown to the sharks in the Cup series.” However, before that, he was having some fun back home. Dominating a dirt race no less (and it’s not your usual dirt race).

Shane van Gisbergen wins the SADDA dirt race

As soon as the 2024 NASCAR season was over, SVG flew back to his roots to race in local sprint car races. The first stop was Western Springs Speedway. Unlike many, SVG doesn’t take time to get in off-season form. He took a heat win along with finishing third in the feature race. After this, his sprint car schedule was long, and we’d say turbulent. Did you catch his #97 car flip at Baypark Speedway? Thankfully, he walked out unharmed. This was followed by another crash at Western Springs.

But SVG, being SVG, wasn’t done yet, he was recently part of the SADDA (South Auckland Demolition Derby Association) dirt race. Those of you who know about this race are aware of the rawness and the madness it involves. If we were to try and explain: Imagine a road course style track with dirt, kind of bring any car you want and start racing in what is a three-hour endurance race. It’s that straightforward but still crazy!

And SVG won it this year. Post the race, he said, “Thanks, everyone. I am pretty happy to win this. So I don’t have to get a month’s worth of Snapchat of Matua (Raw, 2024, SADDA champion) trying to take a selfie. So, apologies in advance for all my Snapchats of the trophy, so yeah awesome day, hope everyone had fun. Look forward to next year.”

And only when we thought this would be the last of his off-season fun he’s running another race. At least he’s flown back to the US. While we are pumped that this would be the first time Shane van Gisbergen runs in the Daytona 500, he’s got another Daytona race planned. Let’s hope he pulls off a win at both!

SVG is running the ’24 Hours of Daytona’ Race

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It’s literally a dream team that they are entering with. Two 3-time Supercar champions, SVG and Scott McLaughlin. Sports car driver Ben Keating. And finally NASCAR prodigy Connor Zilisch. They’ll be running the GTD Pro class. That’s the same division SVG finished in P2 in 2015. Maybe this time he can win it. And it’s interesting to see two Supercar rivals on the same team.

Speaking on this, SVG, as reported by Motorsports.com, said, “It’s completely different from what we grew up doing — and been doing — the last ten years or something. Since Scott and I left Supercars, it’s been an awesome relationship. When you’re racing for a championship, you’re focused on your own world. Even though we had tough moments, we were still friends and had a beer afterward. But now it’s completely different — we’re working together, and it’s so much fun to be driving together.”

Among the two, McLaughlin was the first one to enter the US Motorsports world. But he picked IndyCar and has found success there. Winning 7 races and 19 podiums in 5 seasons. According to SVG, the Team Penske driver was the one who kept asking him to come to the US. And SVG’s glad he did. “It’s an amazing story, what he’s done with the Supercar championships and now running so well in IndyCar. He just kept saying ‘I gotta come over here, gotta come and have a crack.’ I’m definitely glad I did. It’s been an awesome career change for me,” SVG added.

We just can’t wait for the Cup season to start. Hopefully, SVG will get a couple of wins, and get to the playoffs, which makes it thrilling. What do you think? How would his debut season be? Share your thoughts on this in the comments below.