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“Got a Lot to Learn”—Shane van Gisbergen Divulges His Aims for the ARCA-Daytona Rite of Passage

Published 01/13/2024, 2:17 AM EST

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NASCAR is a sport not for the faint-hearted. Carving a niche in the realm of stock car racing is one hell of a task, and doing it on a debut stint is not everyone’s cup of tea. But 3x Supercar Champion Shane van Gisbergen defied the notion with his impeccable Chicago Street Race display, which will be remembered for years to come.

No matter how polished one’s skills are, the learning curve should never stall, let alone diminish. And SVG seems to have taken care of it as he unravels a “lot to learn” aspect beneath his ARCA Menards series stint at the Daytona International Speedway.

NASCAR hotshot Shane van Gisbergen deciphers his Daytona outing

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SVG will kick off his full-time Xfinity Series stint for Kaulig Racing at the Daytona International Speedway on February 18. The last time van Gisbergen visited Daytona was in 2020 when he competed in the NASCAR Rolex 24-hour race and finished P31. But the memories of the track haven’t faded from Shane van Gisbergen’s mind.

Unraveling the excitement of being back at Daytona, the 2023 Chicago Street Race winner said, “It’s awesome to be back at this place, but never have done it on a speedway, never done in the stock car so it’ll be interesting it’ll be good to get a feel by myself, just feel how the car handles, what it does.”

SVG’s Cup Series run will observe a part-time schedule for Trackhouse Racing. But seeing his potential supremacy to ace the world of stock car racing, Trackhouse Racing announced that Gisbergen will compete in the season opener ARCA race for Pinnacle Racing Group, preceding the Xfinity Series race, on February 17. So, it’s natural for Shane van Gisbergen to head back to the 2.5-mile track and polish his skills before the checkered flag drops. 

Unraveling the details of his learning curve at NASCAR, Van Gisbergen said, “It really starts when you’re around cars, and learning how the drive works, and learning to be comfortable around people. Learned how to spot and stuff [that] I haven’t really done before so I’ve got a lot to learn and hopefully this weekend we get some running later today or tomorrow, just to get comfortable really and start understanding how it works.” 

SVG’s grand entry into NASCAR not only secured a full-time Xfinity Series stint and a part-time Cup Series shot but also an attempt at the ARCA Menards Series as well, something that’s a far-fetched dream for many stock car racing debutants out there. With a plethora of races on his plate, the New Zealander’s 2024 calendar has surpassed NASCAR’s hectic Cup Series schedule. 

SVG’s 2024 calendar overshadows NASCAR’s burnout schedule

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The strenuous 36-race calendar of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series was enough to cause dismay among the drivers and the crew members. As the season neared its conclusion, the will to participate in races faded. But that stringent calendar is nothing compared to SVG’s 2024 schedule.

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via Imago

With 33 Xfinity Series races, the Daytona ARCA race, and six Cup Series races under his belt, SVG’s 40-race calendar is not for the weak-minded. The Trackhouse Racing driver will start his Cup Series journey on March 24 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

SVG will return to the streets of Chicago on July 7 for the 4th Cup Series race of the season, preceded by the Talladega Superspeedway race on April 21 and the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Roval on May 26. During the second half of the season, van Gisberegen would be seen at Watkins Glen International on September 15, and the remaining Cup Series races would be held on October 6 and 20 at Talladega Superspeedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, respectively.

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Watch This Story: Is Suarez’s Reign at Trackhouse Racing in Jeopardy?

SVG’s all set to showcase his dominance and rise through the charts in the realm of stock car racing. Do you think that Kaulig Racing’s Xfinity Series driver will live up to the hype?

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Written by:

Aneesh Gupta

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During my teenage years, the thunderous symphony of Formula 1's V8s and the explosive crack of NASCAR's pistol shot became the soundtrack of my adrenaline-fueled existence. The relentless roars of engines, accompanied by the screeches of tires, ignited a passion within me that couldn't be contained. The screen came alive with a captivating dance of aggression, passion, frustration, and celebration, keeping me on the edge of my seat.
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Edited by:

Shivali Nathta