Van Gisbergen targeting Playoffs in NASCAR Xfinity debut

Shane van Gisbergen will take on a full NASCAR Xfinity Series campaign in 2024 and is targeting a Playoffs berth in his rookie campaign.

After leaving America in a state of shock by winning on Cup Series debut in Chicago, van Gisbergen is taking his career stateside to pursue his American dream.

With two Cup Series and one Truck Series races under his belt, 2024 the Kiwi will take his NASCAR dream to another level, doing a full second tier Xfinity Series campaign with Kaulig Racing.

In addition to the 33-race season, van Gisbergen will also take part in seven Cup Series events, resulting in a huge 40-race year.

It is a schedule that excites van Gisbergen, who said it’s about giving himself the best opportunity to step up to the Cup Series in 2025.

What Justin (Marks) and the team have put together is really exciting. It is about building experience,” he said.

“I have a lot of learning ahead but I think it is the best way to do it to prepare myself for a 2025 Cup opportunity.

“Kaulig ended up having a full time seat available and I get to race at every circuit.

“Also racing every month and a half in the Cup Series across a variety of races and tracks is great.

“It is all about the experience and doing as many laps as I can.”

With the Xfinity Series mostly following the Cup Series to all the major ovals, superspeedways and road courses around America, it is the perfect school for SVG.

But as he tries to forge a NASCAR career, he will not be looking to just make up the numbers and is determined to be one of the top 12 drivers that make the all important Playoffs.

“Hopefully I get to experience the pressure of the playoffs. That is the goal,” he said.

“I want to understand the pressure of being involved in it.

“The second half of the year is where I hope to get better at the ovals. When we go back to the tracks we had been to and understand the flow of the race, how the track drives and up to speed with my car.”

Van Gisbergen will be part of a three-car operation at Chevrolet’s Kaulig Racing with A.J Allmendinger and Josh Williams as teammates.

Both have extensive NASCAR experience with Williams boasting 165 Xfinity starts.

But not as much as Allmendinger, who has over 400 Cup Series races under his belt with three wins at Watkins Glen in 2014, Indianapolis in 2021 and Charlotte this year.

The 41-year-old also knows what it is like to take an unusual pathway to NASCAR being a Champ Car driver before jumping in a stock car while he has also done lots of Sports Car racing.

Allmendinger knows how to get the job done in the Xfinity Series with 16 wins between 2013 and 2023 and Van Gisbergen is looking forward to working with him.

“I have not met him properly yet but hopefully he is open with everything and giving me advice,” SVG said.

“He is a super strong benchmark as a teammate to compare myself against and learn off.

“Hopefully we can try and push each other to the front.”

Despite racing in both the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series, van Gisbergen is yet to drive a NASCAR Xfinity Series machine.

Aside from the obvious unique exterior and bodywork, the Xfinity car is lighter and has a shorter wheelbase than the top level, while it boasts an entirely different exhaust system and still uses a four-speed transmission.

Van Gisbergen admitted he is yet to drive an Xfinity Chevrolet and is coming into his first drive with an open mind.

“Car wise I am not so sure,” he revealed.

“It is amazing to see the preparation and detail that goes into building them.

“I am trying not to have expectations. We obviously want to get some top 10s and have some fun, but don’t know what it is going to be like.

“There will be some tough times on the ovals but hopefully through the year we can keep building and I know what is coming on the second time at the track when we can hopefully be competitive.”

SVG’s 2024 Xfinity schedule 

Race	Date	2023 Race Name	Track	Stage laps	Start time (ET)	TV	Radio
1	Sat., Feb.17	United Rentals 300	Daytona International Speedway		5:00p.m.	FS1	MRN
2	Sat., Feb. 24	Raptor King of Tough 250	Atlanta Motor Speedway		5:00p.m.	FS1	PRN
3	Sat., Mar. 2	LiUNA Local 872 300	Las Vegas Motor Speedway		5:00p.m.	FS1	PRN
4	Sat., Mar. 9	United Rentals 200	Phoenix Raceway		4:30p.m.	FS1
	Sat., Mar. 16	Off Week
5	Sat., Mar. 23	Pit Boss 250	Circuit of the Americas		5:00p.m.	FS1	PRN
6.	Sat., Mar. 30	ToyotaCare 250	Richmond Raceway		1:30p.m.	FS1	MRN
7	Sat., Apr. 6	Call811.com 250	Martinsville Speedway		7:30 p.m.	FS1	MRN
8	Sat., Apr. 13	Andy’s Frozen Custard 300	Texas Motor Speedway		1:30p.m.	FS1	PRN
9	Sat., Apr. 20	Ag-Pro 300	Talladega Superspeedway		4:00p.m.	FOX	MRN
10	Sat., Apr. 27	A-Game 200	Dover Motor Speedway		1:30p.m.	FS1	PRN
	Sat., May 4	Off Week
11	Sat., May 11	Shriners Children’s 200	Darlington Raceway		1:30p.m.	FS1	MRN
	Sat., May 18	Off Week
12	Sat., May 25	Alsco Uniforms 300	Charlotte Motor Speedway		1:00p.m.	FOX	PRN
13	Sat., June 1	Pacific Office Automation 147	Portland International Raceway		4:30p.m.	FS1	MRN
14	Sat., June 8	DoorDash 250	Sonoma Raceway		8:00p.m.	FS1	PRN
15	Sat., June 15	N/A	Iowa Speedway		3:30p.m.	USA	MRN
16	Sat., June 22	Ambetter Health 200	New Hampshire Motor Speedway		3:30p.m.	USA	PRN
17	Sat., June 29	Tennessee Lottery 250	Nashville Superspeedway		5:00p.m.	USA	PRN
18	Sat., July 6	The Loop 110	Chicago Street Course		2:30p.m.	USA	MRN
19	Sat., July 13	Explore The Pocono Mountains 225	Pocono Raceway		3:00p.m.	USA	MRN
20	Sat., July 20	Pennzoil 150	Indianapolis Motor Speedway		3:30p.m.	USA	IMS
	Sat., July 27	Off Week
	Sat., Aug. 3	Off Week
	Sat., Aug. 10	Off Week
21	Sat. Aug. 17	Cabo Wabo 250	Michigan International Speedway		3:30p.m.	USA	MRN
22	Fri., Aug. 23	Wawa 250	Daytona International Speedway		7:30p.m.	USA	MRN
23	Sat., Aug. 31	Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200	Darlington Raceway		3:30p.m.	USA	MRN
24	Sat., Sep. 7	Alsco Uniforms 250	Atlanta Motor Speedway		3:00p.m.	USA	PRN
25	Sat., Sep. 14	Shriners Children’s 200	Watkins Glen International		3:00p.m.	USA	MRN
26	Fri., Sep. 20	Food City 300	Bristol Motor Speedway		7:30p.m.	USA	PRN
Playoffs Begin
Round of 12
27	Sat., Sep. 28	Kansas Lottery 300	Kansas Speedway		3:30p.m.	USA	MRN
28	Sat., Oct. 5	N/A	Talladega Superspeedway		3:30p.m.	USA	MRN
29	Sat., Oct. 12	Drive for the Cure 250	Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval		3:30p.m.	USA	PRN
Round of 8
30	Sat., Oct. 19	Alsco Uniforms 302	Las Vegas Motor Speedway		3:00p.m.	NBC	PRN
31	Sat., Oct. 26	Contender Boats 300	Homestead-Miami Speedway		3:00p.m.	NBC	MRN
32	Sat., Nov. 2	Dead On Tools 250	Martinsville Raceway		3:00p.m.	USA	MRN
Championship Race
33	Sat., Nov. 9	Xfinity Series Championship	Phoenix Raceway		6:00p.m.	USA	MRN

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