Van Gisbergen confirmed for NASCAR Chicago Street Race
By Andrew Clarke
Date posted: 19 May 2023
Shane van Gisbergen has been confirmed for his NASCAR debut with Trackhouse Racing’s Project91 Camaro on the first weekend of July.
The three-time Australian Supercars Champion, van Gisbergen, has been working on the deal for a few months after expressing interest in the street race when it was announced last year.
Shane van Gisbergen will drive the #91 Trackhouse Racing Cup Camaro in Chicago in July
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is the first time the Cup Series has raced on a street circuit, although Australia did run NASCARs on the Gold Coast in the early 1990s.
Pitbull is bring some new razzamatazz to NASCAR and on track Ross Chastain and Daniel Saurez are delivering Track House Racing some great results… If not a whole heap of mates.
SVG says that it’s been a dream a long time in the making, and that he can’t wait to get to the streets of Chicago.
“I can honestly say I have dreamed about an opportunity in NASCAR, but really never thought it would become a reality,” said van Gisbergen.
“I can’t wait to get to the States to meet everyone and prepare for Chicago. It’s NASCAR’s first time on the streets of Chicago so in some ways everyone will be a rookie like me, but I don’t underestimate that it’s going to be a huge challenge.
“There is so much I have to learn about these cars and how the races are run.
“The learning curve will be quite steep, but I am ready for everything they will throw at me. I know a lot of Kiwi’s and Aussies will be watching and I’m honored to get this opportunity.”
The Trackhouse Racing team (left to right) of Erin Marks, Justin Marks, Ross Chastain, Amando Perez “Pitbull” and Daniel Suarez.
Trackhouse started Project91 to bring talent from outside NASCAR in what it calls an intersection of NASCAR and global motorsports culture. So far, it has run 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen in two races.
Van Gisbergen has proven himself one of the most diverse racers in the world, having raced globally and successfully in the World Rally Championship, GT Racing (winning the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup in 2016), Sprintcars and won the New Zealand Grand Prix in 2021 from the back of the grid after squeezing into an openwheeler.
2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen drove the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro at Circuit of the Americas in March. Photo by Nigel Kinrade / NKP / LAT Images
Trackhouse owner and founder Justin Marks says that although American fans might not be as familiar with van Gisbergen as they are with Raikkonen, he thinks that his experience in the heavier machinery will bode well for him.
“We have been very pleased with the fan reaction to Kimi’s participation the last two seasons,” said Marks.
“I’ll concede the American racing fan might not be as familiar with Shane as they are with Kimi but if you talk with anyone in Australia, New Zealand and that part of the world, they will tell you he is one of the most talented drivers on the planet. He’s used to street racing in heavy cars and I think everyone will be very impressed with his performance.”
Being a NASCAR Cup Series rookie, Shane van Gisbergen’s Camaro will stand out with the yellow stripes on the rear bumper.
Van Gisbergen will join teammates Daniel Suárez and current Cup Series leader, Ross Chastain, in the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series street race located in downtown Chicago.
SVG will also have the bonus of having crew chief Darian Grubb by his side, a 23-time winning crew chief and NASCAR Cup Series title holder with Tony Stewart in 2011.
The event will take competitors past and through many of the city’s most renowned downtown landmarks on Michigan Avenue, South Columbus Drive, South Lake Shore Drive and the start-finish line near Buckingham Fountain.
The Chicago NASCAR Street Race is on the weekend of 1-2 July, the weekend before the Townsville round of the Supercars championship.
The Auto Action motorsport podcast
The team that’s not trying to make friends or look after sponsors!
It’s hard and it’s fast and sometimes it’s a bit rough, but we call it how we see it and pull no punches. Plenty of analysis and lots of opinion from some of the most experienced motorsport media people in the business – Bruce Williams, Paul Gover and Andrew Clarke.
Listen to the RevLimiter podcast on your podcast app of choice or here on the RevLimiter website
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION. Or subscribe here.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16547,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16547,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 659,
'name' => 'National',
'slug' => 'national',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 659,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 4663,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 659,
'category_count' => 4663,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'National',
'category_nicename' => 'national',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5530,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5530,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 1,
'name' => 'Uncategorised',
'slug' => 'uncategorised',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 1,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 622,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 1,
'category_count' => 622,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Uncategorised',
'category_nicename' => 'uncategorised',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
