V8 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen leaves American race fans in shock as he makes history by winning his first ever NASCAR race – having dropped to 18th before making an incredible comeback
- Shane van Gisbergen takes first Nascar win
- Becomes the first man in 60 years to win on his debut
- Kiwi dropped to 18th before making a stunning charge
Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen has brought his driving dominance to the US, taking a stunning NASCAR win in his first-ever start.
The two-time Bathurst 1000 champion narrowly missed out on pole position at Chicago, but after starting third on the grid, he stormed to victory on the street course in a brilliant audition for a full-time change.
It marks the first time in the modern NASCAR era that a driver has won in their first Cup Series start, a 60-year first.
Having outsprinted his Trackhouse stablemates Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain, the Kiwi champion dropped to 18th in the race before making an astonishing charge through the field.
He took the lead from Justin Haley with five laps to go and held on to take the black and white checkered flag in a 75-lap overtime of the race, which had been shortened from 100 laps after an hour delay due to heavy rain.
Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen has an extraordinary victory in his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Chicago
The 34-year-old Kiwi champion dropped to 18th in the race before making an astonishing charge through the field.
One of the race commentators said: “It’s amazing what this driver has done… it’s been a long time since a race driver has gone to victory lane.”
Van Gisbergen celebrated the memorable win with a burnout on the streets of Chicago before being swamped by media and fans.
When asked if he thought it was possible to win on his debut, he replied: ‘Of course not, but you always dream of it… what an experience, and the audience here! This was so cool and it’s what you dream about. Hopefully I can come and do more.’
“I’ll do Aus for another year and then I’ll be happy to come here.”
Van Gisbergen’s future in V8 Supercars is murky after he stated after arriving in the US that ‘Supercars aren’t much fun right now’.
The three-time Supercars champion signed a new multi-year contract with Triple Eight earlier this year, but has a clause in his contract that leaves him free to leave at the end of 2024.
After van Gisbergen missed pole by just 0.15 seconds, NASCAR Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin said the Kiwi was “lightning fast.”
“The most important thing I noticed is that the man is very fast,” Hamlin said about Van Gisbergen after qualifying.
van Gisbergen becomes the first man in 60 years to win on his series debut
The humble Kiwi celebrated the momentous win with a burnout on the streets of Chicago before being swamped by media and fans
“All angles make me feel super uncomfortable with that extra four inches against the wall.
“So where the track is narrowest and where those guys kind of get into the wall, it’s extremely fast.”
Celebrations for van Gisbergen will be short-lived with an immediate return to Australia this week for the NTI Townsville 500.