With the 2024 NASCAR postseason in full swing, Watkins Glen International is making history by hosting a Cup Series playoff race for the first time. One of the standout competitors in the lineup is Shane van Gisbergen (SVG), a former Supercars champion and current Kaulig Racing driver. SVG enters Sunday’s race as the most dominant road course driver in the Xfinity Series this season, solidifying his reputation as a top contender.
Van Gisbergen first made waves in the NASCAR Cup Series when he debuted at the Grant Park 220 on the Chicago Road Course last year. The three-time Bathurst 1000 winner stunned the motorsports world by claiming victory in his very first Cup Series race. This remarkable achievement placed him alongside legends like Johnny Rutherford, who similarly won his debut Cup race back in 1963. Van Gisbergen’s victory also made him one of only six non-American drivers to win a Cup Series race, marking a historic moment for international competitors in the sport.
Currently, van Gisbergen is driving the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet full-time in the Xfinity Series, while also taking on part-time duties in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the No. 97 machine in partnership with Trackhouse Racing. His prowess on road courses has been unmatched, and as noted by journalist Joe Srigley, van Gisbergen leads the Xfinity Series field in points earned on road courses. He’s racked up an impressive 172 points, putting him ahead of Parker Kligerman and Austin Hill, who follow with 153 and 151 points, respectively. Rounding out the top five are JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier and Cole Custer of Stewart-Haas Racing.
Van Gisbergen’s first victory of the season came at Portland Raceway, where he held off Allgaier by a mere 0.941 seconds. He followed up that win with two more triumphs at Sonoma and Chicago, further cementing his road course dominance. All three of these victories took place on road courses, and van Gisbergen now finds himself sitting 12th in the Xfinity standings, having accumulated 574 points thus far.
Despite his undeniable success in the Xfinity Series, van Gisbergen has yet to crack the top 10 in the Cup Series, a challenge he’s eager to overcome. Looking ahead to the upcoming race at Watkins Glen International, SVG acknowledged that replicating his Xfinity success at the Cup level, particularly with the NextGen Cup car, will be no easy feat.
“I’ve raced at Watkins Glen before, but this time will be a completely different experience in a stock car,” van Gisbergen remarked in a recent interview. “I’m excited to get out there and have fun in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. Hopefully, we can end up in Victory Lane again, but it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it.”
In an exciting development for his career, Trackhouse Racing has signed van Gisbergen to drive their No. 88 car full-time in the Cup Series starting in 2025. The team secured their third charter by purchasing it from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is set to cease operations at the end of this season. This move will see van Gisbergen join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, forming a three-car roster for Trackhouse Racing as they gear up for the upcoming season.
Fans won’t want to miss SVG’s next race, which is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, starting at 3 PM ET. The race will be broadcast on NBC Sports and USA, with live radio updates available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. All eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if he can continue his dominance on road courses and perhaps secure another historic win at Watkins Glen.
