SVG’s preparations for 'crazy' NASCAR debut

Three-time Repco Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen is set for an “intense” baptism when he makes his NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend, where the Supercars ace will take on America’s best stock car racers in a landmark weekend for the North American series.

Competing for Trackhouse Racing’s “Project 91” program, van Gisbergen will make a one-off appearance in NASCAR’s top series at the Chicago Street Race July 1-2, which will be the first ever NASCAR race on a street circuit.

The Kiwi has spent the past week stateside with the Trackhouse team, visiting its Charlotte workshop and attending this past weekend’s NASCAR race at Nashville Superspeedway, meeting the team and studying its processes.

“It’s gonna be intense,” the reigning champion told media at Nashville this morning. “But yeah, just trying to take it all in this week, see how it all works. The pit stops are quite different to what I'm used to, just trying to understand that, how it works and get ready for it.”

The Red Bull Ampol Racing driver follows two-time Formula One world champion Kimi Räikkönen to compete in the Project 91 entry, which Trackhouse is running part-time for star international drivers.

Other marquee names making a cameo at the Chicago Street Race include 2009 Formula One world champ Jenson Button and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.

While the No. 91 Camaro stock car van Gisbergen will race carries several similarities to the No. 97 Camaro Supercar he races full-time, and the 33-year old boasts more street circuit experience than anyone else in the field, van Gisbergen is under no illusion of the challenge that lies ahead of him.

“The technical side of things is pretty similar, the way the car's built,” the Kiwi said. “Big, heavy car, lots of horsepower, not enough tyre, (it’s) similar to what we have. It looks difficult.”

Van Gisbergen will have a brief test on the Charlotte Motor Speedway “roval” tomorrow, his only real-world experience in a NASCAR before hitting the track in Chicago this weekend.

“I'm going to find out tomorrow what it's like at Charlotte,” he added. “I get a small run, but yeah, I'm just looking forward to it and trying to keep my eyes open, trying to learn this week and trying not to have too many expectations about the street circuit.”

With van Gisbergen on hand, Trackhouse scored its first race win of the season Monday morning (Australian time) with Ross Chastain taking the chequered flag over Martin Truex Jr.

As for what van Gisbergen could do in his first Cup outing, the Kiwi was transparent.

“I don't really have anything results-wise, like I just want to do my best,” he said. “I've prepared as well as I can, and I know the Trackhouse team run some awesome cars. Meeting everyone, seeing how motivated they are, there's nothing wrong with the equipment and the preparation, so yeah. I have no expectations result-wise, but if I'm prepared the best I can be, we, we can achieve anything.”

The Kiwi will transit from Chicago directly to Townsville for the NTI Townsville 500, July 7-9, where he is a 10-time previous race winner and is scheduled to make his 500th Supercars race start on Sunday in Race 17 of the 2023 Supercars season.