As the 2024 NASCAR postseason gets underway, Watkins Glen International is preparing to host its inaugural Cup Series playoff race. This event marks a significant milestone for the track and the series, bringing an exciting new dimension to the playoffs. Among the drivers making headlines is Shane van Gisbergen, known as SVG, a former Supercars champion and current Kaulig Racing driver. Van Gisbergen enters Sunday’s race as the most dominant road course driver in the Xfinity Series this season.
Van Gisbergen made a remarkable debut in the NASCAR Cup Series last year at the Grant Park 220, held at the Chicago Road Course. In an impressive display, the three-time Bathurst 1000 winner secured victory in his very first Cup race. This win was notable as it followed the footsteps of Johnny Rutherford, who achieved a similar feat back in 1963. With this victory, SVG joined an exclusive group of just six non-American drivers to have won a Cup Series race, a testament to his exceptional driving skills.
In the current NASCAR Xfinity Series, van Gisbergen competes full-time behind the wheel of the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet. Additionally, he drives the No. 97 car part-time in the Cup Series, thanks to a partnership with Trackhouse Racing. According to Joe Srigley, a journalist covering NASCAR, van Gisbergen leads the Xfinity Series in points accrued from road course races, holding an impressive 172 points. He is followed by Parker Kligerman, who has earned 153 points, and Austin Hill with 151 points. Justin Allgaier of JR Motorsports and Cole Custer from Stewart-Haas Racing are also in the top five.
Van Gisbergen’s season has been marked by a series of standout performances. His first win came at Portland Raceway, where he narrowly edged out Allgaier by 0.941 seconds. He followed this with victories at Sonoma and Chicago, both of which were also road course races. Despite his strong showing on road courses, SVG currently sits 12th in the overall Xfinity standings with 574 points.
As he looks ahead to the Watkins Glen race, van Gisbergen is aware of the challenges that lie ahead. Despite his impressive record in the Xfinity Series, he has yet to secure a top-10 finish in the Cup Series. The transition to the NextGen Cup car presents a new set of challenges, and van Gisbergen is bracing for a tough race. In a recent pre-race interview, he acknowledged the difficulties ahead: “I’ve raced at Watkins Glen International before, but this time will be a completely different experience in a stock car. I’m looking forward to going out and having fun in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. Hopefully, we can celebrate in Victory Lane again. It’s not going to be easy; it’s going to be a challenge, but a lot of fun.”
Looking to the future, Trackhouse Racing has made a significant move by tapping van Gisbergen to drive their No. 88 car full-time in the Cup Series for the 2025 season. This decision follows the team’s acquisition of a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is slated to shut down at the end of this year. Van Gisbergen will join teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez, forming a competitive three-car roster for Trackhouse Racing in the upcoming season.
Fans eager to see van Gisbergen in action can catch him at Watkins Glen on Sunday, September 15, with coverage starting at 3 PM ET on NBC Sports and USA. For those who prefer radio updates, live coverage will be available on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. This race is set to be a pivotal moment in the postseason, with van Gisbergen’s performance closely watched as he continues to make his mark in NASCAR.
