The Chicago Street Race has quickly become a highlight event, capturing the attention and excitement of both NASCAR fans and drivers. The challenging turns, urban scenery, and unpredictable weather combine to create an edge-of-the-seat racing experience that fans love to watch.
Last year, the track made its debut, and in a surprising turn of events, a debut driver claimed the race win. It was a fairytale victory for Shane van Gisbergen, an unexpected triumph that garnered significant attention and has since propelled his racing career forward.
Currently, Shane van Gisbergen is busy competing in Xfinity races, but his return to the Cup Series might not be far off. It’s important to note that van Gisbergen is no rookie. He is a three-time Supercars champion who demonstrated his skills on NASCAR’s first street circuit, competing against some of the biggest names in the sport.
Brad Keselowski, as a team owner, has expressed pride in van Gisbergen’s achievements. In a recent interview, Keselowski made some bold remarks about the Kiwi’s talent and potential in NASCAR, highlighting his impressive accomplishments and the bright future that lies ahead for him.
Brad Keselowski declares Shane van Gisbergen as the clear favorite
Brad Keselowski isn’t someone to shy away from expressing his thoughts, and his latest comments on Shane van Gisbergen (SVG) are no exception. In a recent interview, when asked about SVG and the upcoming race in Chicago, Keselowski was straightforward: “He easily enters the race as the favorite.”
Van Gisbergen, 35, has consistently demonstrated his prowess, not only in Chicago but also on various road courses. To solidify his reputation, he secured back-to-back victories in Portland and at the Sonoma track. His affinity for street race courses is evident, and even Brad Keselowski acknowledges his exceptional talent.
Talking to Frontstretch, Brad Keselowski praised Shane van Gisbergen, saying, “I mean he’s an excellent race car driver. His ability on street courses is really, really strong. He’s got a lot of experience at that type of racing, much more than the field does by a long bit. So his ability to adapt to it in different cars and different track conditions is really high. I would say he easily enters the race as the favorite.”
At street race courses, Shane van Gisbergen remains seemingly unchallenged at the top. With the Chicago race approaching, only time will tell if he can maintain his dominant position. However, van Gisbergen has faced challenges on oval tracks, recently describing them as “very, very, very difficult.” Despite his struggles on ovals, his street racing prowess keeps him as a formidable competitor in the upcoming Chicago race.
Kaulig Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen is on a mission to build an impressive and exciting racing resume. After his fairytale win at the Windy City, he decided to race in NASCAR full-time, and so far, his performance has been commendable. It’s important to note, however, that his best results have come on road courses rather than ovals.
Van Gisbergen has always been open about his struggles with oval tracks but remains optimistic about eventually becoming comfortable with them. He said, “The ovals are very, very, very difficult. But I feel like I’m getting better and better, finishing the races with straight cars and starting to get more and more competitive. Road courses are (my) strength, but I don’t know if ovals are a weakness.”
Although Shane van Gisbergen is no rookie to racing, he is still figuring out the nuances of oval tracks. Currently, he heads to the Chicago street race as the reigning champion. Given his impressive career trajectory, he might soon become a permanent fixture in the NASCAR Cup Series. It will be exciting to watch him adapt to ovals while continuing to challenge big Cup names like Tyler Reddick and A.J. Allmendinger on road courses.