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.

SVG will pilot the #97 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Carmaro SS in his debut Xfinity season.
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.

SVG meets Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing for the first time.
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.

Shane van Gisbergen driving his Trackhouse Cup Series Camaro at Indianapolis.
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.

AJ Allmendinger celebrates victory for Kaulig Racing at this year’s Xfinity Series race in COTA. Photo by Nigel Kinrade / NKP / LAT Images
“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.

Shane van Gisbergen making his oval debut in the NASCAR Truck Series.
“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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