This weekend, street racer standout Shane van Gisbergen will probably be in search of his second championship — and one other victory within the NASCAR Cup Sequence — within the nation’s second metropolis.
All eyes will probably be on the New Zealander’s return to the Windy Metropolis when Grant Park 165 raises the inexperienced flag within the second race of the Chicago Road Sequence on Sunday.
The Trackhouse Motorsports driver shocked the NASCAR world a yr in the past by profitable the inaugural Chicago race, sealing the victory because the streetlights got here on and darkness fell on the freeway that crosses town.
The Challenge 91 Chevrolet street racing specialist, nicknamed SVG for brevity’s sake, handed Justin Haley to win the race, which was shortened by 25 laps attributable to impending darkness.
The Auckland, New Zealand, native turned the primary driver in 60 years to debut in NASCAR’s high collection. Johnny Rutherford received a qualifying race at Daytona in 1963, when the occasion was thought-about a factors race.
The 35-year-old Van Gisbergen has solely began a handful of Cup races this season, however he has already left an indelible mark on the Xfinity Sequence driving the No. 97 Chevrolet full-time for Kaulig Racing alongside teammate AJ Allmendinger.
Within the first Xfinity Sequence race at Portland Motor Speedway in June, he beat Justin Allgaier on the restart with 4 laps remaining. The three-time Australian Supercars champion then repeated the victory the next weekend at Sonoma Raceway, main 32 of 79 circuits and beating Sheldon Creed for profession No. Second victory.
Kaulig Racing Group President Chris Rice was impressed with Van Gisbergen and stated his model was totally different from street racer Almendinger.
“It is a totally different particular,” Rice stated. “AJ got here into our place and have become probably the greatest street racers the game has ever seen. His driving model could be very totally different to that of SVG, who would be the finest racer in Australia and their The factor is, he’s required to be taught these vehicles.
Oddsmakers do not assume his victory in Chicago was a fluke.
In keeping with DraftKings odds, SVG opens as a +500 favourite, adopted by Kyle Larson (+600), Christopher Bell (+600), Tyler Reddick (+650) and final yr’s No. 1 general choose. Three Chase Elliott (+800).
“SVG is a particular driver,” Rice added. “He is obtained extra expertise than we have seen anyplace else in a very long time. He’ll do an important job, however if you get on the Cup facet, it is so much tougher than it’s in Xfinity.
“It is unbelievable how a lot management he has over the automobile.”
In information, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Josh Berry will depart the No. 4 Ford and step into the legendary Wooden Brothers Racing’s No. 21 automobile in 2025, changing the second-year driver Harrison Burton.
Berry turns into the second SHR driver to discover a automobile for subsequent season, becoming a member of Chase Briscoe, who will exchange the retiring Martin Truex Jr. as Joe Joe Gibbs Racing drives the No. 19 automobile.
Noah Gragson and Ryan Preece are the 2 remaining SHR drivers not racing subsequent season, whereas Cole Custer seems to be the frontrunner to drive for the brand new Haas Manufacturing facility Group in 2025.
–Scene-level media