Van Gisbergen thinking of Xfinity Playoff chances
Shane van Gisbergen believes “anything can happen” as he admits to beginning to think about his NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff prospects.
Van Gisbergen is on a high after taking a third win of the year on the streets of Chicago last weekend.
Van Gisbergen’s effort now gives him a series-best 17 playoff points and his three wins are the most in the series this year.
Currently the Kiwi sits 11th on the points standings, which are led by the winless Cole Custer, but ensures the #97 will be well placed when the chase for the title begins at Kansas in nine races time.
After pulling off another charge to victory on the streets of Chicago, van Gisbergen admitted he is starting to prepare for chasing the NASCAR Xfinity Series title when the Playoffs begin in his rookie season.
“It is cool to be thinking and talking about that stuff,” he said.
“It is something we did not think we would be talking about, playoff points and all that.
“It was a cool conversation with my crew chief whether or not we stay out to get stage points and not one we thought we would be having.
“With a few wins and stage wins we are in a pretty good position now so we can keep evolving on the ovals and take some risks.
“I think we have another road course before the playoffs happen and there is also one in the playoffs.
“As long as we keep improving anything can happen.”
But van Gisbergen is aware the biggest obstacle he faces is his continual class on racing at the variety of unfamiliar oval layouts.
The Kiwi is learning all the time and has a burning ambition to be competitive on ovals and road courses.
His best oval result is third at Atlanta when many ran out of fuel, but he also finished sixth at Phoenix.
“I want to be someone who is getting results on the ovals too and on merit,” van Gisbergen said.
“At Martinsville I was in the top 10 running reasonably well until the green white chequered madness and Phoenix I did pretty well too.
“They are so different. I have learnt a lot on the concrete tracks.
“Everything I ever raced you want to be on the rubber but on an oval it is the opposite watching where it moves and adapting your line. Then a yellow comes out and it disappears, I have never seen anything like it.
“On a concrete track it is very graphic so I have learnt a lot where to place my car and last weekend was the most competitive I have felt on an oval.
“I am never going to celebrate a 15th but I was racing good guys and having good battles
steady progress and I feel like I am still driving within myself.”
This weekend van Gisbergen will be racing on one of the most unique stops on the NASCAR calendar.
The Explore the Pocono Mountains 225 will be held at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond Pennsylvania.
What makes Pocono special is its layout, being a long 3.2km triangular-shaped track known as the “tricky triangle.”
The race will begin at 5.00am AEST.
Photo by Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / LAT Images
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