Shane van Gisbergen prepared to adapt to 'unknowns' of NASCAR oval racing

When you win in your debut, people take notice. Shane van Gisbergen has a lot to learn, but he’s already got a checkered flag to his name. As SVG makes his way to Indy this weekend for the road course race in the NASCAR Cup Series and a little IRP oval racing in the Truck Series, he’s thinking about what he needs to do to compete.

2024 is right around the corner and so is an official NASCAR season for SVG. However, van Gisbergen, for now, is still a guest in the series. Racing in Australia’s Supercars full-time since 2007, the 34-year-old is now looking for his next opportunity.

Shane van Gisbergen is going to race his first oval ever in a stock car this week. Then he’s going to tackle the Indy Road Course for the first time ever. There are a lot of “unknowns” for the New Zealander.

“It’s massive,” SVG said to NBC Sports about changing racing series. “It’s a lot of unknowns to come, the oval stuff. I haven’t done (an oval) race yet, just the learning of it. But I’ve done Supercars full-time since 2007 … so a good time to change, try something new. I’ve got a lot of good years left in me, I guess. Come and try something different.”

Before Shane van Gisbergen officially becomes a NASCAR driver next season, he has a lot to do back home. He can win another Supercars championship for the fourth time in his career as he leaves the series to come to America. Until his work there is done, he’s got a job to do for his Aussie team.

Shane van Gisbergen wants to focus on Supercars

While it has to be difficult when you’re flying back and forth around the world, SVG plans to focus on Supercars this year. He wants to do the best by his team and give them a solid season on his way out. No matter what is going on in NASCAR or here in America, that is where his main focus is for the time being.

“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 [at 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.”

This Cup Series race at the Indy Road Course is going to have international star power. Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi will drive for 23XI Racing in the 67-car. Jenson Button returns to the No. 15 of Rick Ware Racing along with Andy Lally in the 51. Brodie Kostecki will join his Supercars peer in this race as he suits up for RCR in the 33.

Shane van Gisbergen will try to go two for two in his NASCAR career so far. He has a great shot at doing it, too.