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NASCAR Kiwi Speedster Breaks Down the Struggles of Uprooting His Life and Moving to America With His Family

Published 01/11/2024, 12:31 PM EST

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NASCAR has been a breeding ground for the young homegrown talents from America. U.S.A. may have dominated the sport but a fair few foreign drivers have made their mark in the series. The likes of Marcos Ambrose, Mario Andretti, and Daniel Suarez are some of the prominent names who have achieved success despite not having American roots. Adding to this list is the 34-year-old Kiwi racer, Shane van Gisbergen who is all geared up for his breakthrough full-time season.

With the 2024 Cup series inching closer, Shane van Gisbergen will be looking to make the most of the opportunity handed to him by Trackhouse Racing. With the announcement that he will be racing a full-time Xfinity schedule with Kaulig Racing in partnership with Trackhouse, the three-time Super Car champion had to move his entire family to the United States. It does sound like a dream move from the outside, but will have its challenges, which SVG highlighted in a recent podcast.

From fences for the dog to driving on the opposite side, SVG has his hands full

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This is not the first time the Kiwi racer will be racing in NASCAR for he has already made more than a few fans here. Putting his racing skills on display during the 2023 Chicago Street course, the 34-year-old won in his debut race with Trackhouse Racing. However, there’s a huge for him this season as he will be racing in at least seven Cup series races and running a full-time schedule with Kaulig in the Xfinity.

This means Shane van Gisbergen will have to shift bases from New Zealand to the United States with his entire family. For many foreigners, it may sound like a dream move to settle in the States but for SVG and his family, there has been a lot of adjusting. From having a fence around the house for his dog to switching sides of the driving seats, SVG listed down the struggles he has faced so far.

In a conversation on NASCAR’s podcast show, NASCAR Live, Shane van Gisbergen said, “Its been a major (change) and a lot is still in process. To get the visa, social security number, and bank account, start from scratch with all that stuff… Trying to find a house with a fence for my dog so he doesn’t run away… A lot of it is really good but other things are different and we just have to adjust and get used to it(…) I keep walking to the car tryna get in from the wrong side, as long as I got it figured out by the time I drive in the race car, I’ll be fine.”

Read More:  Shane Van Gisbergen Opens Up About Following the Footsteps of International Motorsports Legends in NASCAR

If he makes the most of this opportunity, SVG might be racing full-time with the big boys in the Cup Series as soon as next year.

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Shane van Gisbergen has a golden opportunity on his hands

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Trackhouse Racing knows that they have their hands on a skilled racer in SVG. Being part of Project91 to having clinched a Cup race, things are falling into place for the Kiwi racer. The fact is that Trackhouse Racing is having a somewhat troubled time with their No.99, Daniel Suarez. SVG might replace a fellow foreign racer in the premier stock car racing division.

The Mexican racer has been inconsistent since he arrived on the team in 2021 with only a win to show in three long years. Van Gisbergen could potentially hit the ground running in 2024 and make a case for himself to have a full-time schedule in the Cup Series. However, for the time being, he will look to make the most of the limited Cup races he has got and make a positive impact in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig.

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Do you think, Shane van Gisbergen has the makings of a good Cup Series driver and should he feature in a full-time schedule for Trackhouse Racing soon?

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Written by:

Chintan Devgania

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One take at a time

It was the Fast & Furious movies that acted as my gateway to the world of cars and motorsports. Later, as I completed my undergrad in Journalism, I learned how to channel my thoughts and opinions, which only helped me kick-start my career as a sportswriter. Having written multiple copies for the Scottish Daily, I am now looking to expand and contribute at EssentiallySports as a NASCAR writer, informing, enlightening, and entertaining the fans with my stories.
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Edited by:

Abhishek Ramesh