Time Running Out for Shane Van Gisbergen As Triple Eight Boss Gives a Balmy Deadline

Shane Van Gisbergen had put NASCAR veterans like Chase Elliott to shame in the inaugural street circuit race in Chicago, where he marked his debut with a glorious victory. A supercar driver, SVG had thought of trying his hand behind the wheels of a Next Gen car and after his win, he is thinking about taking it up full-time. In the post-race interview of the Chicago Street race, he told the reporters that he would do one more year of driving Australian V8 cars and then he would love to drive in NASCAR as a full-timer.

However, as time is ticking,?Triple Eight Race Engineering boss Jamie Whincup wants a definitive answer regarding the probability of the speedster from New Zealand driving his car. As per a recent article by Motorsport.com, Whincup has admitted having set a deadline for SVG to commit to his team.

Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen set to discuss future endeavors

According to NASCAR, Shane became the first driver in the last 60 years to have gone down the victor lane on a maiden race. The 34-year-old got a chance at the wheels behind the No. 91 Chevrolet as a part of Trackhouse’s Project 91. That victory has ignited a flurry of comments and anticipation regarding SVG’s intervention into NASCAR. Some even expect the return of Red Bull to NASCAR as they are a sponsor for SVG. But an ultimatum is awaiting the NASCAR newbie, as there is just a fortnight to go before his next start at Indianapolis.

Whincup and his team would like to come to a decision before that happens. He stressed on the fact that they are already late. He is okay with termination from the Triple Eight for undergoing his claim to the KIWI for the 2024 season, but he needs a clear ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. Although for him, the chances of Shane Van Gisbergen coming back to NASCAR and driving his cars full time is fifty-fifty.

Whincup said “There’s not much for me to do until he says, ‘hey, I really want to go to the US’. But he hasn’t made that call yet. I think he’ll make that shortly and once he makes that call, then I’ll start the process of working out who goes in that car.”?

“We’re looking around. I wish I wasn’t. I had both drivers contracted to 2024. But there could be a curveball there. There’s nothing more to add than what we already know. It is what it is,” he added.

Watch This Story: How Shane Van Gisbergen?s Chicago Victory Became an Embarrassing Nightmare for Cup Drivers?

As the fans are excited about the return of SVG to NASCAR, some are questioning his talent as a stock car driver. Surely, his victory at Chicago was praiseworthy, but was it just a fluke?

Was it just beginner’s luck for Shane Van Gisbergen?

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Among other things, a relevant question arises: How well would he perform in NASCAR? Many may argue that Chicago was just a coincidence, and that consistent performance might not be shown by the driver on the diverse tracks of NASCAR. However, it is better to rely on solid facts rather than speculating on what might be or what might not.

NASCAR’s next-gen cars draw inspiration from various racing series, including Australian V8 cars. Alongside an impressive track record of 3 championships in Australian Supercars, SVG has also demonstrated his expertise in IMSA races where he secured the second-place finish at the 2015 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Hence, it is evident that Van Gisbergen is no stranger to driving stock cars.

According to an analysis by NASCAR Zone, “One of the main adjustments SVG would face is getting accustomed to the racks in NASCAR. Australian supercars mainly race on road courses and street circuits. meaning SVG has no prior professional experience on oval.”

Driving in the oval racetracks requires an entirely different set of skills. If SVG were to return full-time to NASCAR, will he be able to cope with the changes and prove himself as a successful NASCAR Cup Series driver? Only time will tell.