Assertive Chicago Winner Reveals Kyle Larson’s “Kick Your A**” Statement Was Merely a Result of His “Bread and Butter” Training

NASCAR’s Chicago tour was a roller coaster ride. Surrounded by unsettling speculations before kicking off NASCAR’s street racing journey, the Chicago Street Course gave the motorsports world much to discuss. Marred by rain and the backlash from fans for curtailing the Xfinity race, NASCAR’s Cup Series Grant Park 220 had the entire motorsports community in disbelief. No words could even come close to describing the incidents that unfolded. While Denny Hamlin led the race after winning the 39th pole of his career, NASCAR debutant, Shane Van Gisbergen shocked the NASCAR world with his Chicago race win.

Appearing at the post-race presser, Van Gisbergen spoke to the media on his thoughts regarding Kyle Larson’s “kick your a**” remarks on his unprecedented win.

“Sort of bread and butter”: Shane Van Gisbergen reacts to the statement by Kyle Larson

Racing in the Australian Supercars Championship, Shane Van Gisbergen is no stranger to the street racing format. A majority of the Supercar Championship races are held on street courses and Van Gisbergen has bagged the Supercar Championship title thrice, in 2016, 2021, and 2022. Although street circuits may very well be his forte, Shane Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR debut as a part-time driver for TRT was still an out-of-the-world experience. Yet, the Kiwi overshadowed the NASCAR greats on their own playing field. Posting a lap record time of 1:29.914, Van Gisbergen drove down Chicago’s Victory Lane.

On his extraordinary achievement, HMS‘s #5 driver Kyle Larson congratulated the TRT #91 driver. Earlier in the presser Kyle Larson said, “I think when a guy like that can come in and kick your a** at your own game it shows we all have room to improve. I’m curious what he thinks about us. He obviously passed a lot of us, so I am curious if he thinks we all s*ck or if we could actually compete like if we weren’t really that bad.” Van Gisbergen was then asked what he feels about the statements made by Larson.

Revealing how Larson’s comments were a mere result of his Supercar Championship experience, Shane Van Gisbergen revealed, “I’m sure if it was an oval it would be the other way around. I guess this is my sort of bread and butter, the street circuits. Almost half of our series races are street circuits. I’m comfortable with the walls.”

Further disclosing what he feels regarding the NASCAR driver, Van Gisbergen added, “But those guys are good. In the wet, the tire was so different to anything I’m used to, but they were straight into it and just into it…Everyone is good, and the passes they were making were committed. I probably was a bit too nice to some people, but that’s how it was…Yeah, had some really good battles coming through. Some guys waved to me and some guys battled hard, which was really cool. Everyone was clean and I got a couple of taps. I tapped a couple of people.”

Read More: Chicago Winner Shane Van Gisbergen Nearly Fell Victim to “Dumba**” Bubba Wallace As His Bizarre Mistake Triggers Fans’ Wrath

While Van Gisbergen’s victory was amazing, the Kiwi had already set himself up as a title threat during the minute 50-minute practice window and the qualifications.

Shane Van Gisbergen’s sowed the seeds of Chicago title domination early

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Living up to his hard-earned title of the fourth-most successful racing driver in the Supercars Championship history, Van Gisbergen’s Chicago domination started right from the practice laps. Posting the fastest lap time in practice, the Kiwi outpaced pole winner Hamlin by 0.313 seconds.

During qualification too, the three-time Supercar champion fought hard for pole position with Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick, but ended up qualifying at the 3rd spot. Following the practice laps where he stole Denny Hamlin’s thunder, Van Gisbergen sided with Kyle Busch, complaining regarding the track’s bumpy surface.

Going on to bag his well-deserved title win at NASCAR’s inaugural street circuit, Shane Van Gisbergen even expressed he might consider a full-time NASCAR venture post the 2024 Supercar season. Would you like to see the Kiwi make a permanent move to NASCAR’s Cup Series? Let us know in the comments.

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