Van Gisbergen, whose solely earlier NASCAR oval observe expertise got here final season in a Truck race on the Indianapolis Raceway Park quick observe, had a tough debut in final Friday’s ARCA season opener, getting caught up in an accident on lap 3 of 83.
He managed to ultimately return to the observe in his broken automobile and was the final automobile working within the race at twenty ninth, spinning a second time whereas making an attempt to keep away from a mid-race wreck.
Monday evening’s rain-delayed Xfinity debut produced a a lot better outcome for van Gisbergen – twelfth and on the lead lap – but additionally included involvement in some wrecks and several other minor mishaps, however nothing that prevented him from staying in rivalry.
“I attempted to love to investigate each wreck, you understand all six that I bought concerned in. I couldn’t determine a method I might have finished issues otherwise,” stated van Gisbergen, who’s working a full season of Xfinity and partial Cup schedule this season with Kaulig Racing.
“, it’s simply this model with that racing and one thing I’ve to simply accept. You bought to run the chance of getting that good outcome. However you’re most likely going to get right into a crash and it’s an incredible mindset to go racing.
“I’ve by no means had to do this earlier than going to race, pondering you understand, it’s 50-50 whether or not you’ll crash. So, it is fairly completely different.”
Shane van Gisbergen, Kaulig Racing, WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro, Brandon Jones, JR Motorsports, Menards/Swiffer Chevrolet Camaro, Jeremy Clements, Jeremy Clements Racing, One Cease / All South Electrical Chevrolet Camaro
Picture by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Pictures
Final July, van Gisbergen grew to become the primary driver in additional than 60 years to win a Cup race in his debut when he took victory within the inaugural Chicago Road Race driving for Trackhouse Racing.
The victory served because the instigator for the three-time Supercars champion to maneuver to NASCAR competitors this season.
The Daytona ARCA occasion was van Gisbergen’s debut superspeedway race however turned out to be a irritating expertise.
The race was moved up a day as a consequence of extreme climate and he was principally taken out of rivalry proper shortly after the beginning.
“When the race began, like I’d by no means two-wide earlier than and my spotter was superior and he was pushing me greater than I wished to, to start out with,” the 34-year-old Kiwi stated. “Nevertheless it was good, we wanted to clear some folks.
“So, the primary lap was three-wide on the trioval, almost (expletive) myself. It was simply mayhem the remainder of the race.”
“I belong right here”
Regardless of the ups and downs of superspeedway racing, van Gisbergen heads into Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend extra satisfied than ever that his NASCAR trek is the fitting one.
“, I had enjoyable. I really feel like I belong right here,” he stated. “I really feel like I’ve undoubtedly finished the fitting factor for my profession and racing enjoyment.
“It’s been superior. The folks and followers as effectively are actually cool. It’s been nice to see the response.”
With Atlanta now extra of a drafting observe, van Gisbergen stated he believes he nonetheless earned some precious expertise that may assist him in Saturday’s Xfinity race.
“Simply know the way to place the automobile to get on it, altering the steadiness and grip and the way to keep in line after which studying the proximity of the automobile to the wall on the fitting aspect,” he stated. “It took me some time to know the place the fitting aspect of the automobile was.
“I hadn’t pushed round folks. We did some single-file stuff in apply (at Daytona) however no double-file. I stored pulling out of line, which despatched us backwards. So, I bought to get higher at that.”
