Auckland might be Shane van Gisbergen’s favorite place, but Chicago will surely be a close second! Last year he broke all records winning at his debut race at the Cup Series in Chicago. And this year, he did it again but in the Xfinity race on Saturday! Going into the race, he was a favorite because SVG and street courses seemed to be a match made in heaven. And in Xfinity this year, he has proven his might not once but twice before. He won his first two Xfinity wins this year on the road courses at Portland and Sonoma, back to back!

He had a lot of pressure, living up to the level he set last year at the Chicago Cup race, but he delivered and the win got him his third Xfinity win of the season. Ahead of the race, he said he just wanted to have some fun and that he did. So much so that his boss was flipping in good spirits and even made some pretty tall claims. 

Chris Rice was not expecting this

Kaulig president Chris Rice was stoked after the Xfinity race in Chicago, as Shane van Gisbergen bagged his third win of the season! That’s no small feat for someone in their second year in NASCAR. Plus, he was going wheel-to-wheel with some of the biggest names in the sport, like Kyle Larson. SVG’s on-track skills have impressed everyone time and again, and this win just proves he’s a force to be reckoned with in the NASCAR world.

While SVG’s talents sure know no bounds, Rice made a bold prediction about SVG’s standing at the end of the season. Rice said to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, “I didn’t really think SVG would win three, but I don’t ever underestimate him on these road courses. Tomorrow’s going to be amazing, but no, I didn’t think he’d have three win stickers on his car. But I’m so excited he does. He might be leading the points when they go into the playoffs with all the playoff points he has.”

Shane van Gisbergen was a total boss on the track, but moving to Xfinity meant facing some serious competition. Unlike last year’s Cup Series, where he had a relatively smooth ride, Xfinity was a whole different story. It seemed like his rivals had finally figured out his moves and strengths. After losing the lead to Kyle Larson early on, he strategized his way back to the front, capitalizing on a three-lap shootout to pass Jesse Love and reclaim his top spot. He then faced off against Ty Gibbs, who was just as tough a competitor.

While Jesse Love and Ty Gibbs gave tough competition to SVG, the man who was the biggest challenge to him was Kyle Larson. They both battled it on track; a showdown worth the watch! This happened till the very end, and what made the race even more exciting at the final stage was when Larson and SVG were at it, Ty Gibbs had muscled his way to snatch a pretty finish at P2! 

Right now SVG has moved up two places in the Xfinity Series playoff point standings after his momentous win on Saturday. He is now in the 11th spot and behind the leader Cole Custer by 200 points. Shane van Gisbergen is surely an asset to the team and he continues to make strides on road courses. He seems unbeatable, just as his boss said. While most drivers ahead of the road course seemed nervous, that is not SVG for you. As mentioned earlier, he just wanted a fun race and Kyle Larson obliged. 

Kyle Larson claims Shane van Gisbergen was “Just having fun playing with me”

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The Chicago race was off to a great start, with SVG, the reigning champion, out to win! Ahead of the race, he said, “It’s almost like a holiday on a road race weekend for me. I can relax and have some fun.” While it may seem he was overconfident, that isn’t the case. He was just at ease. Even during a battle that was not easy to win, his calm demeanor propelled him to the victory lane.

However, Shane van Gisbergen wasn’t the only one shining, considering how Kyle Larson kept him on his toes at several points. The duo went head-to-head all the way to the finish. And kudos to them since they kept the race clean—making it a fun race for everyone. Everyone had that edge-of-the-seat moment, and isn’t that what really makes a race go from good to great?

And it’s not just the audience present there and the fans back home who had a blast watching the race. The drivers too could not help but enjoy. Kyle Larson, after the race, confirmed that Shane van Gisbergen was in fact out for having fun. After the race, Larson said, “I was having a blast. He was obviously way faster than me and I think he was having fun just playing with me. 

Larson, who is doubling this weekend, was looking to battle SVG and learn the race craft stuff. And according to him, he learned a lot. He said, “I feel like I learned quite a bit, battling him and creating different angles and all that.” This clearly indicates that even celebrated drivers like Larson understand the threat that SVG is, especially on road courses.

However, a question looms at large- now that Larson has learned so much, did he grasp the nuances of SVG’s techniques? To outshine him in the Cup race? Only time will tell, but it’s going to be exciting to watch for sure! 

What did you think about the race? Let us know!