Shane van Gisbergen participated in Chevy Wheel Force test at Sonoma
Before he races there this summer, Shane van Gisbergen was out at Sonoma Raceway this week doing test for Chevy. SVG got to drive in a NASCAR Wheel Force test to collect data on how the car is handling the track.
Sonoma Raceway went through a repave recently. This test is to get data on how much force is being put on the wheels throughout the course, possibly even looking at tire degradation and those things.
Shane van Gisbergen has never raced at Sonoma. So, the fact he got to at least test out there for Chevy and Trackhouse Racing is major. Right now, he does not have that race on his Cup Series schedule but it is on his Xfinity Series calendar.
The summer schedule is promising for Shane van Gisbergen. He’s not only had to race on ovals, but has been racing at tracks he’s never even seen before until he arrives for the walk-through.
His last top-10 came at Phoenix this season. Since then he’s had a couple of top-15 and top-20 finishes. His runner-up finish at COTA was reduced to a P27 finish after a last-lap penalty for cutting the esses.
There are at least a few tracks on the upcoming schedule that play into SVG’s favor. He will get away from the ovals and hopes to make the most out of the road courses ahead.
Shane van Gisbergen gets Sonoma experience
Getting a little time at Sonoma is great. However, Shane van Gisbergen has other things to do before he gets out to California. The Xfinity Series is going to race at Darlington and Charlotte. He will also race in the Coca-Cola 600 in the Cup Series at Charlotte.
Then he is going to head out to Portland International Raceway for road course action. It’s a great, racey track and one that SVG will enjoy. Last season, Portland was perhaps the best Xfinity race of the season with a wild NASCAR finish. Lots of beating and banging in those final laps.
After Portland, it will then be Sonoma. Then a few weeks later van Gisbergen will return to Chicago where he won in his NASCAR Cup debut a year ago. From there Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval are the final two road courses of the season.
There are opportunities for Shane van Gisbergen to get a win coming up. He could do it in the Xfinity or Cup Series depending on what kind of equipment he has when he unloads. Learning the ovals and learning the racecraft it takes to be good on them is what is most important for him at this point.