Shane van Gisbergen explains how NASCAR career came to be: 'Things spiraled pretty quickly'

Shane van Gisbergen has become a budding star in the NASCAR Cup Series over the past two years. Following his win in what was thought to be a one-off in Chicago back in 2023, the former Supercars Championship wheelman is continuing to make a name for himself in the United States.

After his latest win in Chicago this past weekend, he joined Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour. Speaking with Kevin Harvick, SVG elaborated on how his life has changed since his victory in Illinois back in 2023, and the way his love for NASCAR has blossomed to where he stands at the moment.

“Things spiraled pretty quickly after Chicago,” van Gisbergen stated, hearkening back to his first NASCAR Cup Series win. “Like two months before Chicago, I came over, I had signed a deal to continue in Australia for one year at least. Then, I had such a good time. It was so refreshing.

“Things weren’t going that good in Australia, I guess, with the new car and stuff. I just was ready for a change. The way Justin [Marks] presented this project, you know, pretty much a year of learning and then jump into the Cup Series? I just, you know — I was at a perfect time in my career to try something different. It’s been the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Of course, NASCAR and the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand are far from the same sport, even if they have similar bones. Later in his interview, SVG revealed some key challenges in the difference between the two disciplines, and how he’s found success at both.

“It’s probably more intense, because it’s every single week and the challenge is so different every week,” SVG told Harvick. “Like it’s not like you’re doing mile-and-a-halves each week, you’re doing a different style of racetrack every single week, and the preparation and stuff is so different. Also, instead of seeing two teammates’ data, I can see everyone’s data. So, it’s a lot more intense. 

“On a road course, I hate it, because everyone can see my stuff and it’s all people seem to be talking about on the weekend. But especially when you go to a Pocono or a Martinsville, you study someone like Denny Hamlin, who’s amazing at those tracks, and the tendencies he has, or Chase Elliott at Martinsville. There’s some guys who really stand out. But when you go to like a Vegas or something, it could be anyone. You know, so there’s so much stuff you got to look at now.”

All told, the NASCAR Cup Series is happy to have Shane van Gisbergen, as he’s certainly upped the intensity on road courses. Once again, he’ll have a shot at the win this weekend in Sonoma. We’ll see if he can get it done.