Shane van Gisbergen giving a lot of thought to his NASCAR future

Shane van Gisbergen made it clear Wednesday: He wants to “have a crack” at NASCAR in 2024 as long as his Australian Supercars race team, Triple Eight Race Engineering, can find a suitable replacement.

Shane van Gisbergen says his 2024 plans are not set as he tries to figure out his best path if he focuses on NASCAR starting next season. pic.twitter.com/NLHjp8AZB9

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) August 9, 2023

“Main priority is my Australian team, Triple Eight,” van Gisbergen said Wednesday, via Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports. “Wanting to get them to have a replacement that they’re happy with. As long as they’re happy with who’s going to replace me, I’ll be happy leaving. I’m trying to get something over here [NASCAR] and work on it. I don’t have anything signed up [but] I’m loving Trackhouse [Racing] now and the plans that [team owner] Justin [Marks] has proposed for the future is pretty exciting. I’d love to be here and keep working — expand my career and come over and have a crack.”

van Gisbergen put himself in contention for a NASCAR Cup Series ride after racing his way to victory in his Cup Series debut behind the wheel of the No. 91 Chevy for Trackhouse Racing in the Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race on July 2.

While van Gisbergen would love to race exclusively in the Cup Series if he makes the move in 2024, he acknowledged he must pay some dues.

“I think you’ve got to pay your dues,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s such a big learning curve, all the oval stuff, and especially the superspeedways. That actually looks like a whole different type of racing than I’ve ever done before. So, it’s gonna take me a lot of time to learn, and I’ve got to do as much racing as I can and work back up through the classes probably to make sure that I’m comfortable and understand the oval racing world.”

Shane van Gisbergen to make second appearance for Trackhouse at Indy Road Course after Chicago win

The 34-year-old will make his second start this Sunday in the Verizon 200 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. While many expect him to be one of the favorites coming off his win in the Chicago Street Race, van Gisbergen said he has no idea what to expect.

“It’s a lot of unknowns,” van Gisbergen said, via Motorsport. “You can do as much sim time as you want but there’s only 20 minutes of practice this time. Before Chicago, I had the little [test] at the Roval and then 50 minutes of practice. It’s going to be difficult, not many laps. Only one set of tires [in practice]. Hopefully, I’m building up, getting better and getting a decent qualifying spot, stay out of trouble when the race starts.

“The race is long enough, hopefully, I’ll be picking it up and running pretty good by the end of the race. How I’m going to fit in pace-wise – I have no idea.”