Veteran Insider Baffled as NASCAR Endorses ARCA-Daytona Approval Run for Shane Van Gisbergen

The chilly morning of December 13th started with exclusive NASCAR news. Shane Van Gisbergen, the wizard of wheels from New Zealand, had just signed a deal to race full-time in the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity season. Not just that, he’s also set to grace the track in at least seven NASCAR Cup Series races. Kaulig Racing, having spotted his phenomenal win at the Chicago street course race, couldn’t resist snapping up the multi-time Supercars champion.

But it’s not just the Cup and Xfinity series where SVG’s magic will be on display. He’s also dipping his toes into the ARCA Menards Series. Yes! And the reason is even a hotshot like SVG has to jump through hoops to make his Xfinity debut. The key? He’s got to rev up his engine at the season opener in Daytona. However, a recent social media post reveals that one of the NASCAR veterans is raising his eyebrows in surprise. 

SVG needs to run the ARCA Menards Series season opener to be approved fit to drive in the Xfinity series

Every January, there’s a yearly ritual before the main event—a pre-race practice session. The Xfinity Series rolls out the carpet with an extensive practice period, offering plenty of chances for drivers to showcase their skills. That could be the golden ticket for Shane Van Gisbergen to gain approval for Daytona. And once that seal of approval is stamped for Daytona, the doors open wide to race on any track on the circuit.

But that has just gotten a few people scratching their heads. Justin Schuoler, a NASCAR old hand, just can’t wrap his head around this. He took to Twitter, his fingers probably flying as fast as SVG on the track, and laid it out plain and simple: “Wait, you’re telling me that someone that has: – Won a Cup race; – Raced in 24 Hours of Daytona; – A multi-time Supercars champion; – A Bathurst 6-hour & 12-hour champion –A three-time Bathurst 100 champion (3 of the last 4, mind you) and – A Blancpain GT champion…must go through an approval process to compete in Xfinity Series full-time?” asking if a proper pilot needs to fly a paper plane.”

Not to mention, SVG’s racing résumé is something out of a motorsport fanatic’s dream. The man’s a legend in helmets and overalls. Currently, the ARCA race at Daytona is setting the stage for its 61st lap around the sun. This 200-mile showdown is SVG’s debut on a superspeedway, where he’ll ride the draft amidst eager regulars itching to etch their names in the ARCA Daytona Hall of Fame. And that’s just the appetizer. Next, he’ll be off to conquer another 300 miles in the Xfinity race, kickstarting his first full NASCAR season.

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The ARCA Menards Series is all set to fire up its engines for the annual preseason practice at Daytona on Jan. 12–13. And if Mother Nature decides to play spoilsport, they’ll just hit the restart button on Jan. 14. Ty Norris, the big boss at Trackhouse Racing, is confident that a mix of ARCA testing and an extended Xfinity practice session should be enough to get SVG’s tires on the Daytona track and beyond. Meanwhile, SVG, fresh off his triumph in the Chicago Street race, admits to a flutter of nerves about taking on some of NASCAR’s iconic tracks.

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Justin Marks’s former prodigy is anxious to drive on some of the NASCAR tracks

Shane van Gisbergen, synonymous with the success of Project 91 by Justin Marks, is feeling the jitters about hitting some of NASCAR’s tracks. Chatting with the press, SVG let slip that the superspeedways have got him biting his nails. “Our first race, I don’t really know how to approach it or what to expect,” he confessed.

SVG’s hoping a smidge of practice will help him get cozy with the car’s pace, but he also admitted, “That style of racing is so far removed from everything I’ve ever done.”

He didn’t mince words about his nerves, saying, “Superspeedways is probably what I’m most anxious about, or unsure about what’s going to happen or how the cars race. That’s going to be a tough first one.”

Read More: Shane van Gisbergen Gets Extra Practice as the Kiwi Prepares to Drive at Daytona Before the Start of His 2024 Season

Meanwhile, WeatherTech is throwing its weight behind Shane van Gisbergen, signing on as the big-time sponsor for 17 of his 33 Xfinity races, not to mention the Cup showdowns at COTA, Charlotte, Watkins Glen, and the autumn race at Talladega. Besides, they’re also backing Zane Smith in the Daytona 500. Smith, who’s inked a multi-year deal with Trackhouse, is set to go full throttle with Spire Motorsports next year.