Shane van Gisbergen’s commanding victory in Mexico City has set the stage for a strategic shift as he prepares for the upcoming NASCAR race on the streets of Chicago. The New Zealand driver, who races for Trackhouse Racing, took the checkered flag with the largest margin of victory seen in a NASCAR Cup race in over 15 years. As the series heads to Chicago, van Gisbergen is widely regarded as the driver to beat.
Van Gisbergen’s history with Chicago is notable. He famously won on debut when NASCAR first visited the city, a feat not seen at the top level of the sport in over 60 years. This victory was pivotal, steering him away from Supercars and towards a full-time career in NASCAR stock car racing.
Chicago’s Unique Challenge
Reflecting on his connection to Chicago, van Gisbergen remarked, “This place is pretty cool to me every time I come back. I hate cities, so I don’t really like the place. But when you get here, it’s pretty cool. You know, I have great memories here. This place has changed my life, so I’m going to have special memories of this place forever. But yeah, not enough grass for me (laughs).”
He has likened Chicago’s circuit to a hybrid of the Gold Coast and Adelaide circuits, familiar to Supercars fans. Van Gisbergen described the “daunting” nature of some corners, characterized by high speeds, heavy braking, and minimal runoff. Last year, his attempt to secure back-to-back victories in Chicago was thwarted when Chase Briscoe clipped him after losing control under braking on a slick, rain-affected track.
Strategic Adjustments and Playoff Implications
One common strategy at road and street courses involves “flipping the stages,” where drivers sacrifice stage points to gain track position. With his recent win, van Gisbergen is considering altering his approach. “We’re in a nice position now having won a race,” he explained. “And it may change our strategy. If we’re in a position to get a playoff point, we’ll probably try and get that, but that’ll put us deep in the field for the next stage. So yeah, there’s a bit of a toss-up there what we’re going to do, but it’s a nice position to be in. And yeah, you’re right, we can try some stuff now.”
Van Gisbergen currently holds six playoff points from his Mexico win (five points) and a stage win (one point) at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Despite his strong position, the driver remains cautious. With eight races left in the regular season, there is a possibility that four new winners could emerge, potentially jeopardizing his playoff spot due to his lower position in overall points. “Someone brought that up the other day, but I try not to think about those things,” he said. “You know, we’re still — we won a race, which is extremely hard to do here. And yeah, we just got to focus on our own thing and it should work out. We’ll be fine.”
Looking Ahead: The Road to the Playoffs
The announcement comes as NASCAR intensifies, with drivers jostling for playoff positions. Van Gisbergen’s strategic flexibility, bolstered by his recent win, could prove advantageous as the season progresses. His ability to adapt to different strategies and conditions will be crucial in the races ahead.
Meanwhile, the NASCAR community is abuzz with predictions and speculations about the outcome of upcoming races. As van Gisbergen continues to make waves in the NASCAR Cup Series, fans and analysts alike are keenly observing his every move.
With the Chicago race looming, all eyes will be on van Gisbergen to see if he can replicate his past success and solidify his standing in the playoff race. The stakes are high, and the streets of Chicago promise to deliver another thrilling chapter in his NASCAR journey.
