Within the nation’s Second Metropolis this weekend, standout highway racer Shane van Gisbergen might be in search of his personal second — one other NASCAR Cup Collection win.
When the Grant Park 165 takes the inexperienced flag Sunday for the second working of the Chicago Avenue Race, all eyes might be on the New Zealander’s return engagement within the Windy Metropolis.
The Trackhouse Motorsports driver shocked the NASCAR world one yr in the past when he gained the inaugural Chicago race, locking down the victory as road lamps got here to life and darkness descended on the freeways traversing the town.
Nicknamed SVG for brevity’s sake, the Mission 91 Chevrolet road-racing specialist labored his well beyond Justin Haley to win the race, which was shortened by 25 laps attributable to impending darkness.
The Auckland, New Zealand, native grew to become the primary driver to win his debut in NASCAR’s prime collection in 60 years. Johnny Rutherford gained in 1963 at Daytona in a qualifying race, then thought-about a factors occasion.
van Gisbergen, 35, is just driving a handful of races in Cup this season, however he has already left an indelible mark on the Xfinity Collection, the place he races the No. 97 Chevrolet full time for Kaulig Racing alongside teammate AJ Allmendinger.
Within the first Xfinity Collection race of June at Portland Raceway, he beat Justin Allgaier on a restart with 4 laps to go. The three-time Australian Supercars champion then repeated the next weekend at Sonoma Raceway with one other victory, main 32 of 79 circuits and beating Sheldon Creed for his second profession collection triumph.
Kaulig workforce president Chris Rice has been impressed with van Gisbergen and mentioned his model is completely different from that of Allmendinger, a road-racing ringer.
“It is a completely different particular,” Rice mentioned. “AJ got here into our place and has been top-of-the-line highway course racers ever on this sport. His driving model and SVG’s driving model is so completely different that SVG goes to be one of the best racer from Australia and the way in which they do it and he is bought to be taught these vehicles.”
The oddsmakers do not assume his Chicago victory was a fluke.
By way of Draft Kings odds, SVG opened as a favourite at +500 adopted by Kyle Larson (+600), Christopher Bell (+600), Tyler Reddick (+650) and final yr’s third-place finisher Chase Elliott (+800).
“SVG is a particular driver,” Rice added. “He has extra expertise than we have seen in a very long time come from anyplace else. He will do very effectively, however once you get to the Cup aspect, it is approach more durable than exhibiting up in Xfinity.
“He has a lot automobile management, it is unbelievable.”
On the information entrance, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry will go away the No. 4 Ford and climb in to the legendary No. 21 one of many Wooden Brothers in 2025, changing second-year driver Harrison Burton.
Berry turns into the second SHR driver to discover a journey for subsequent season, becoming a member of Chase Briscoe, who will substitute the retiring Martin Truex Jr. within the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece are the 2 remaining SHR drivers who do not need a journey for subsequent season, whereas Cole Custer seems to be the frontrunner to drive the brand new Haas Manufacturing unit Workforce entry in 2025.
–Subject Degree Media
