What started as a stellar rookie year ended with a faulty strategy call. Shane van Gisbergen breathed fire on his first full-time NASCAR season, clinching three road-course victories in the Xfinity Series. However, the Kiwi speedster’s signature talents abandoned him when it mattered the most. The Xfinity race at the Charlotte Roval ground his playoff run to a halt, as a caution with 15 laps to go jittered his crew chief’s decision-making.

That crucial slip-up deprived him of a Roval victory. Subsequently, his run turned worse as Jesse Love and Justin Allgaier beat him with their fresher tires. An overtime caution flag hit the final nail in the coffin as Love got ahead of Gisbergen by 2 points, and the latter finished 3rd and outside the playoffs. But this unfortunate turn of events may be attributed to a crew shuffle two months ago.

New guide stuttered Shane van Gisbergen’s run

After the three-time Bathurst 1000 winner swept up the Chicago Street Race trophy on his Cup Series debut, people knew what a phenom he was. A star driver needs a star crew chief as well, and Shane van Gisbergen got somebody for his Xfinity stint. Bruce Schlicker served as the No. 97 Kaulig Racing crew chief through the first 20 races of 2024. The Schlicker-SVG pairing brought Kaulig three road course wins – Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago – along with five top-5 finishes and six top-10s. But for reasons Kaulig refused to divulge, Schlicker departed following the three-week Xfinity break.

Kevin Walter, who had served as Josh Williams’ crew chief, replaced Schlicker. That may have been a bad decision for Shane van Gisbergen, as Eric Estepp argued. Walter decided to let SVG run high and dry on old tires, and that ultimately sealed the Kiwi’s hopes. “His crew chief’s decision to stay out with 13-14 laps left on nearly 20 lap tires was certainly a choice…If I’m Kevin Walter, if I’m the crew chief in that situation, I want SVG on offense. I’m sure he thought more drivers would consider staying out for track position. But SVG was running 2nd when the caution came out – he would have restarted 5th or 6th most likely with fresh tires. At that point, I would trust SVG to get the job done.”

Fending off the likes of Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love, who were on fresh tires, proved to be an ordeal. Yet Shane van Gisbergen displayed true prowess as he still managed to finish 3rd. Estepp continued: “Instead, you put him on defense, really difficult to hold off good drivers when they have nearly 20 lap pressure tires. So SVG was put on his heels – he did a great job staying 4th for much of that run. But he just did not have the grip that his rivals had, and couldn’t do anything with them there towards the end.”

Van Gisbergen’s luck ran out at the Xfinity race. But the Kiwi has a solid shot for the Cup race, where he is already a mighty threat.

Gisbergen clinched a milestone yet again

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Whenever a road course appears on the Cup Series schedule, drivers are wary of one name on the qualifying grid. Shane van Gisbergen is that name and has been so ever since the 2023 Chicago Street Race. Although the 2024 Cup race in Chicago saw a slippery Kyle Larson ram into SVG, the Kiwi can still shock his Cup rivals. Last October, Tyler Reddick grabbed the pole at the Charlotte Roval after posting the fastest lap. But this time, van Gisbergen put the No. 13 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro at the top of the speed charts, posting a lap of 99.246mph.

In the process, van Gisbergen clinched not only his very first Cup Series pole but also Kaulig Racing‘s first Cup pole. He also posted the fastest lap of the overall session, in the first round, with 99.254mph. Tyler Reddick will start Sunday’s Bank of America Roval 400 outside of the front row. “What an amazing day,” van Gisbergen proclaimed after claiming his second pole on Saturday afternoon. “I’m at a loss for words.” He laid down his intentions to play spoilsport to Cup Series playoff drivers. “We’ve got to race respectfully. There are a lot of playoff guys, but I’m here to win the race.”

Evidently, Shane van Gisbergen is on track to reverse his Xfinity misfortune at the Charlotte Roval. Hopefully, the Kiwi can reclaim his road course throne on Sunday’s race.