One year on – van Gisbergen rocks Chicago

On this day one year ago Shane van Gisbergen stunned the NASCAR world with his now iconic debut win in Chicago and he will return to the streets that changed his life this weekend.

Sunday, July 2 will be a storied day among motorsport fans not only in Australia and New Zealand, but also America as the NASCAR world was taught a lesson of street circuit racing by van Gisbergen.

The then Triple Eight Supercars driver made a one-off cameo appearance in the Trackhouse Racing Project 91 Camaro and despite qualifying third and running in the top five across the first two stages, the Kiwi found himself down in 18th with 28 laps to go in a race that was suddenly shortened.

But the rest is history as van Gisbergen produced an epic charge through the field, going 1.5s faster than the rest of the credentialed NASCAR Cup Series field in mixed conditions.

Shane van Gisbergen, leads Ty Dillon around the streets of Chicago. Photo by Nigel Kinrade / NKP / LAT Images

His drive to glory was complete on Lap 71 when he hunted down leader Justin Haley in a thrilling dice. It started with a big dive at Turn 2, but Haley hit back by charging past down the straight, only for van Gisbergen to sneak by with the switchback at the following right hander.

Haley then had no answer as America stood, watched and saluted van Gisbergen’s brilliance.

Van Gisbergen was the first driver in six decades to win on NASCAR Cup Series debut and fast forward 12 months he will return to the streets of Chicago this weekend as a massive part of the paddock.

He has been racing full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Kaulig Racing and has already booked a ticket to the Playoffs thanks to special back to back wins at Portland and Sonoma.

Van Gisbergen currently sits in the points as he adapts to each new oval that comes his way, while he has also made appearances in the Cup Series.

Shane van Gisbergen ruled the streets of Chicago on NASCAR Cup Series debut.

He will race in both the #16 and #97 Kaulig Racing Camaros doing double duties with the Xfinity The Loop 110 taking place at 5.30 AEST on Sunday morning and the Grant Park 165 main event being held the following day at 6.30 AEST Monday morning.

AUTO ACTION’s Andrew Clarke was one of the only Australian journalists to travel to Chicago and witness van Gisbergen rock the NASCAR world with his own eyes.

Clarke spoke with Trackhouse Racing’s Director of Performance Darian Grubb, who knew van Gisbergen could win as early as the Kiwi’s first drive of a NASCAR at Charlotte the preceding Monday.

“Honestly, for me, i would say it was Monday when we did the test at Charlotte, he said.

Shane van Gisbergen performs a trademark burnout to salute a stunning NASCAR Cup Series win at Chicago. Photo by LAT Images

“But watching his disciplined approach of managing tyre wear, letting him do a long run with 26 laps at the end of the test, just letting him feel how the tyres would fall off

“In those things, you see his talent level, and you see his questioning of his own ability, and he wanted to go in there and try five different ways, and you just sit there and watch. We don’t have data on the car, but you could see him learning with every lap, and he could do consistent laps all day long.

“And then when we got to the simulator later than the week, watching how he had studied what the other guys had done and being able to go out there in lap three and beat their lap times in most cases was pretty impressive.”

With 665 races next to his name, Denny Hamlin is one of the most experienced in the NASCAR Cup Series field and was shocked by van Gisbergen.

“The biggest thing noticed is the guy (Van Gisbergen) is lightning fast in all of the corners,” he said.

Denny Hamlin leads Tyler Reddick and Shane van Gisbergen down the main straight in Chicago. Photo by Nigel Kinrade / NKP / LAT Images

“I feel super uncomfortable using that extra three inches against the wall. So, where the track is the narrowest, and where you saw Chase (Elliott) and those guys get into the wall is where he is extremely fast.

“He’s just got a feel for those barriers and the car control that he has. That’s his advantage right now – we’re not used to having to cut the corners that tight, and he is. It’s been impressive what he’s done today, for sure.”

Initially after his historic victory, the enormity of it all had not quite sunk in for van Gisbergen.

“This was so cool. It is what you dream of and hopefully I can do more,” he said in victory lane.

Shane van Gisbergen celebrates his famous victory. Photo by John K Harrelson / NKP / LAT Images

“When we had that back strategy and back in 18th I started to worry a little bit, but the racing was really good. Tough, but a lot of fun.”

“It is obviously pretty high,” van Gisbergen replied when asked where it ranked.

“Supercars is my dream, and winning that championship and races like Bathurst over there are still top of the list, but to come in and do this … I don’t know where it ranks yet, it’s still sinking in, but it’s obviously one of the most special victories l’ve ever had.

“I miss racing in the States. I’ve done Daytona four or five times now, and it’s so much more enjoyable the way the American people are and how they go racing. Even doing the media stuff, which I hate, everyone here’s really nice they ask me questions, and they’re respectful, which goes both ways.”

All eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if history repeats in Chicago this weekend.

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