Shane van Gisbergen is back on the Windy City’s streets, the scene that defined his career just over a year ago. The last time he was in Chicago, the Kiwi was a relatively unknown entity, having made a name for himself in the Supercars Championship. As part of Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, van Gisbergen made his way to the United States for a one-off Cup Series start. Who knew that would be the start of his NASCAR career?

Showing his proficiency in street racing, SVG became the first driver in 60 years to win a Cup Series race on his debut. The 35-year-old is now back where it all began, hoping to secure back-to-back victories at Chicago Street Course to secure a full-time spot in the Cup Series.

Shane van Gisbergen is hoping to maintain road course dominance

The inaugural race in Chicago was severely affected by rain, but that didn’t stop SVG from outclassing Justin Haley and Chase Elliott while his part-time crew looked on. History was being made, and nobody had seen anything like it since Johnny Rutherford at Daytona in 1963.

The Kiwi’s performance on the 12-turn, 2.2-mile course on his debut captured the attention of not just the NASCAR community, but the motorsport world. The result meant a development deal with Trackhouse Racing was on the cards, letting Shane van Gisbergen participate in select Cup Series races while competing full-time in the Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing.

However, it’s no secret that he dreams of racing in NASCAR’s top tier. Speaking in the pre-race press conference, the Kiwi was asked by Nate Ryan of NBC Sports if he’s looking at winning Sunday’s race as a way of solidifying his future in NASCAR, particularly in the Cup Series.

In response, Shane van Gisbergen said, “No, I don’t think like that. But, it would probably, certainly help. Getting a good result both days and showing that I can keep running up front on road courses but I’m not trying to put pressure on myself. I have to win to get into the Cup next year. Certainly, a good result will help that.”

230703 — CHICAGO, July 3, 2023 — Shane van Gisbergen C reacts after winning the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Chicago Street Race in Grant Park in Chicago, the United States, on July 2, 2023. Photo by Vincent Johnson/Xinhua SPU.S.-CHICAGO-NASCAR-RACE XuxJing PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN

He has already left a mark in the NASCAR Xfinity Series so far. He beat Justin Allgaier on a restart with four laps to go to secure his first win of the season in Portland. He then went on to get another victory the following weekend at Sonoma Raceway, leading 32 of 79 circuits and outclassing Sheldon Creed. While he is still coming to terms with racing on oval tracks, the 35-year-old is a force to be reckoned with on road courses.

When it comes to Australian Supercar drivers making their way to NASCAR, Shane van Gisbergen has been a trailblazer. The Kiwi has paved the way for Will Brown and Cam Waters to compete in the Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway, with van Gisbergen serving as one of Brown’s spotters in the race.

Moreover, his race win in the inaugural Chicago Street Course track has also affected this year’s iteration, with a noticeable increase in ticket sales this season. It’s a miracle just how much of a difference a single race win can make in a driver’s career!

Throwback: When SVG secured his debut victory

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The Chicago Street Course is a tricky one for all drivers. And that’s exactly what we saw in last year’s inaugural race on the track. Bad weather conditions didn’t help either, with Denny Hamlin sliding into the tire barrier during the second lap of the race, promptly followed by Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell halfway through the race, along with a dozen others. Former Formula 1 champion Jenson Button spun on track while approaching the pit road as well.

With just 16 laps remaining, Shane van Gisbergen was sailing through uncharted territory. Unpredictable weather and unique conditions on the street course, combined with racing in a different sport altogether, presented a strategic dilemma for the Kiwi. While some drivers opted to maintain track position by continuing with their older, worn-out tires, van Gisbergen went for a riskier approach. He pitted for fresh tires and raced for his life to make up lost ground.

What followed was the kind of storyline you only see in movies. The debutant overtook one car after another, passing race leader Justin Haley with five laps to go to secure a fairytale victory. Speaking about the race, Shane van Gisbergen said, “No one thought we would come out and win that race. That feeling when the radio cracks open and the engineer or crew chief comes over, screaming about how exciting the win was, and that short-term spike of emotions you get—it’s hard to explain, but it’s an amazing feeling.”

Do you think Shane van Gisbergen can win the Chicago Street Race this time as well? Let us know in the comments!