By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — The primary time Shane van Gisbergen raced in Chicago, he was largely unknown in NASCAR. The second time, he was one of many favorites on the downtown avenue course.
The third time is a unique state of affairs for van Gisbergen as soon as once more. This time, he has a second Cup Collection victory in his again pocket — offering some flexibility for the 36-year-old New Zealand native as he prepares for the playoffs.
“We’re in a pleasant place now having gained a race,” van Gisbergen mentioned Friday. “And it might change our technique. If we’re able to get a playoff level, we’ll in all probability try to get that, however that’ll put us deep within the subject for the following stage. So yeah, there’s a little bit of a toss-up there what we’re going to do, however it’s a pleasant place to be in.”
Certain is.
Simply two years in the past, van Gisbergen — a three-time champion in Australia’s Supercars — placed on a blinding present in a wet first version of NASCAR’s downtown Chicago experiment. Profiting from his in depth avenue racing expertise, he turned the primary driver to win his Cup Collection debut since Johnny Rutherford within the second qualifying race at Daytona in 1963.
He gained Chicago’s Xfinity Collection cease final yr and the primary stage within the Cup race earlier than he was knocked out by a crash.
“You recognize, I’ve nice recollections right here,” van Gisbergen mentioned. “This place has modified my life, so I’m going to have particular recollections of this place perpetually.”
Van Gisbergen’s success in Chicago led to a full-time Cup journey with Trackhouse Racing. However the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet is studying his manner round NASCAR and he bought off to a sluggish begin this season.
Whereas oval tracks stay a problem, he definitely hasn’t forgotten his roots on avenue and highway programs. He posted his second Cup win final month at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico Metropolis.
Van Gisbergen is scheduled to compete in each Chicago races this weekend. Subsequent up for NASCAR is one other highway course at Sonoma Raceway, offering a chance to maneuver up from No. 32 within the Cup standings and construct up some momentum.
“Highway programs are only a bonus for us,” he mentioned. “We all know we’re going to be good and we will simply give attention to making an attempt to get outcomes there.”
Even after two years, the downtown Chicago avenue course stays a difficult proposition. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile monitor is slender and bumpy in spots — to associate with manhole covers, and transitions from concrete to asphalt and again — and there may be little room for error in some areas. Rain affected the motion in every of the primary two weekends, and there might be extra showers on Sunday.
Persistence is typically the perfect strategy, however that solely goes up to now in NASCAR.
“It’s simple to say that till Shane is on the market a second quicker than you and it’s important to go put your self in some uncomfortable conditions,” mentioned Joey Logano, the reigning Cup Collection champion.
In relation to van Gisbergen on highway programs, Logano mentioned the remainder of the Cup Collection is “in a manner, enjoying catch-up.” Van Gisbergen mentioned he feels the identical manner about ovals.
“These guys have been doing left-handers since they have been 10 years outdated,” van Gisbergen mentioned. “You recognize, they’re two fully completely different sports activities, and though there was highway racing in NASCAR perpetually, it’s not that a lot. So yeah, simply the expertise ranges are completely different in what we do. And I really feel like, sure, they’ve positively gotten lots higher for the reason that first one on this monitor, for positive.”
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