Social media reacts to SVG's NASCAR breakthrough
To no surprise, social media lit up following Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen's stunning NASCAR victory in Chicago.
Van Gisbergen, 34, powered his Project91 Camaro to victory on his Cup Series debut after a daring late move on Justin Haley.
The 78-time Supercars race winner became the first driver in 60 years to win his debut Cup Series race, and the first Kiwi to win a NASCAR race.
Former Supercars rival and long-time friend Scott McLaughlin, now an IndyCar star, tweeted the race with great interest.
After tweeting of his nerves from the lounge room, McLaughlin wrote: "Im so fkn happy for him. Enjoy every moment brother. NZ represent. Emotional."
Cheers brother holy cow @shanevg97 pic.twitter.com/tEUAcuyiYs
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) July 3, 2023
A point raised by motoring journalist Fred Smith was that van Gisbergen and McLaughlin both quickly adapted to new machinery and won.
Shane van Gisbergen won his first Cup race, his first-ever race of any sort, in a stock car. Scott McLaughlin learned downforce as an adult and won within 15 months of his first IndyCar race.
— Fred Smith (@FredSmith914) July 3, 2023
You should probably watch Bathurst this year.
Van Gisbergen's Supercars squad, Red Bull Ampol Racing, also hailed their driver's stunning drive.
WOW! Congratulations SVG on your first @NASCAR WIN! 🏆#RedBullAmpol pic.twitter.com/jcgJqwJXZA
— Red Bull Ampol Racing (@redbullampol) July 3, 2023
Motorsport.com journalist Nick DeGroot cited how rare non-American victories in NASCAR are, with van Gisbergen joining Marcos Ambrose on the list.
Foreign-born drivers to win a #NASCAR Cup Series race:
— Nick DeGroot (@ndegroot89) July 3, 2023
🇳🇿Shane van Gisbergen - 2023 Chicago
🇲🇽Daniel Suarez - 2022 Sonoma
🇦🇺Marcos Ambrose - 2011 & 2012 WGI
🇨🇴Juan Pablo Montoya - 2007 Sonoma & 2010 WGI
🇨🇦Earl Ross - 1974 Martinsville
🇮🇹Mario Andretti - 1967 Daytona 500
It attracted attention of none other than motorsport legend Mario Andretti, a former Formula One world champion and Daytona 500 winner.
Such a solid performance today Shane @ShaneVg97. You deserve every accolade coming your way. #NASCARChicagoStreetRace
— Mario Andretti (@MarioAndretti) July 3, 2023
Van Gisbergen's NASCAR breakthrough forms part of a wider motorsport success story, as cited by Supercars reporter Chad Neylon.
- Winning a NASCAR cup race on debut
— Chad Neylon 🇦🇺 (@chadneylon) July 3, 2023
- Winning NZ GP from last
- WRC2 podium
- Winning from 17th at Sandown with broken ribs/collarbone
- Wins in GT3, speedway, time attack, RC cars, iRacing, drifting
Have I missed anything on that crazy resume? #SVG #NASCAR
Several Supercars rivals, including teammate Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki, Todd Hazelwood and Thomas Randle, all commented support for the Kiwi.
Then, there were his adversaries on Sunday, with Hendrick Motorsport teammates Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson among the drivers in awe of the performance.
Congrats @shanevg97! That was incredible to watch from my seat. Them Kiwi’s are built different! Lots of talent out of that country in all forms of racing. Hope to maybe sling some dirt with you at the Springs someday! 🇳🇿
— Kyle Larson (@KyleLarsonRacin) July 3, 2023
A huge congratulations is in order for @shanevg97 for that drive, the guy did an amazing job all weekend and it was fun to see his craft first hand… very well deserved! Cheers, mate 🍻
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) July 3, 2023
I’ll be honest. Didn’t know who he was when walking beside him Saturday am.
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) July 3, 2023
But I dang sure do now!
Nice win man. https://t.co/6ZMRxi5U0W
The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NTI Townsville 500 on July 7-9. Tickets are on sale now.
Townsville will be broadcast live on the Seven Network on the Saturday and Sunday of the event.
It will be broadcast live on Foxtel (Fox Sports 506) and streamed on Kayo on all three days.
International fans can live stream every Supercars race and qualifying session live and uninterrupted on SuperView.
