Shane van Gisbergen discusses his lack of nostalgia for driving supercars.
Shane van Gisbergen and Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing (Image: Supercars)
Shane van Gisbergen, a former Supercars driver from New Zealand, made the decision to leave behind his 17-year career in the Supercars Series and move to NASCAR. After winning the Chicago street race in 2023, he caught the attention of Trackhouse Racing, who signed him in a development deal. Despite initially missing the Supercars series, the three-time champion has now fully embraced his new racing life in NASCAR.
In a recent interview with Fox Sports, the New Zealand driver talked about his experience transitioning from Supercar Racing to NASCAR, especially his time racing on ovals with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series. He admitted that he initially missed racing with V8 cars in Oceania, but as the NASCAR and Supercars seasons progressed, he left those feelings behind.
The first practice was a bit strange. After 16-17 years, seeing someone else drive my car was definitely a strange feeling. However, the race itself didn’t matter much, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything.
As time goes on, Gisbergen is feeling more comfortable in the Xfinity series and is constantly improving with each race. The New Zealand driver is finding his rhythm and his results are reflecting that.
Now, after completing two seasons in the Xfinity series, Shane van Gisbergen has accumulated a considerable amount of racing experience. He has consistently shown his racing ability and proven himself multiple times.
When asked about his time with the Chevrolet team over the past two seasons, Gisbergen expressed his pleasure in racing on new tracks and with a different type of car. He enjoys the challenge of stepping out of his comfort zone.
Gisbergen truly appreciates the challenge of racing in a new series and expresses his excitement every time he gets in the car. With this season being a significant opportunity for learning and growth, it seems like the number 97 driver will continue to thrive in the Xfinity and NASCAR series.
