Shane van Gisbergen wins on NASCAR debut

Shane van Gisbergen has made a statement on the world stage, taking a famous victory in this morning’s NASCAR Grant Park 220 over the Chicago Street Course.

While van Gisbergen had remained coy regarding his chances in the race all week, hopes were high following an impressive practice and then qualifying session.

What followed was nothing short of special, the three-time Supercars champion putting together the perfect race in challenging conditions to take victory over Justin Haley.

The win stands as the first time a driver has won on NASCAR debut in over 60 years. It also makes him just the seventh driver to win on debut in the 75-year history of the sport.

“This was so cool. This is what you dream of. Hopefully, I can come and do more,” van Gisbergen said following a massive burnout in front of a loud Chicago crowd under the dying sun.

“The racing was really good, everyone was respectful. It was tough but a lot of fun,” he said. “The fans in Australia and New Zealand, the response this week and the coverage has been – I can’t explain it.

“Like the response and the support I’ve got from everyone and even over here how welcoming everyone is, I can’t believe it. Dream come true.”

The Grant Park 220 was NASCAR’s first time over the tight street circuit, and it was an event worth remembering, with a shock winner, multiple cautions, a lengthy rain delay and a strategy masterclass.

Standing water had seen the start pushed back an hour, with racing finally commencing nearly 90 minutes after the scheduled start time.

Van Gisbergen started well from third and kept his position over the opening exchanges before taking second spot off Tyler Reddick ahead of the first round of stops.

Once those had been undertaken, van Gisbergen re-emerged in second, behind only Christopher Bell, as the field switched to slicks on a drying surface.

The Kiwi proceeded to lose places off a Lap 34 restart, dropping to fifth until a fourth caution was called for on Lap 41. He regained one spot off this restart, with the track only staying green for two laps.

Under the fifth caution, it was announced the race would be reduced from 100 laps to 75, resulting in half of the pack stopping for a two-stop strategy while others remained out.

Van Gisbergen was one of those to stop, opting for fresher rubber to bring the race home. This saw him drop to 18th with only 30 laps remaining.

From here, what transpired was nothing short of a Shane van Gisbergen masterclass, the Kiwi making incredible moves and holding firm as his rivals faltered to return to the front and sit third with nine laps to run.

Up front, Haley and Chase Elliott were on older rubber, having opted for a one-stop strategy. Van Gisbergen passed Elliott off a Lap 66 restart and appeared to take the lead on Lap 67, only for an untimely caution to force him to return to second.

That was no issue for the eventual race winner, who took the lead on Lap 70, with only five laps to run, and began putting time on the field.

Another late caution pulled this back, and the race put into a two-lap ‘overtime’ off the restart, which saw van Gisbergen keep his nerve and hold on for an inspiring race victory which will go down in NASCAR race history.

As it happened:

9.30 am: The start has been delayed for some time now due to intense rain and the amount of standing water on the circuit. No indication yet as to when the race will start, but it does seem the rain is starting to clear slightly.

The conditions saw yesterday’s Xfinity race called off just before the mid-point due to the persistent weather and lightning strikes in the area. The race had been set to resume this morning but did not due to flooding on parts of the track.

9.57 am: Drivers called back to their cars! The rain is letting up, and the jet driers are doing their job, meaning we may get to see some racing soon! “It’s good racing rain” says driver Corey LaJoie.

10.06 am: Covers coming off the cars in pit lane. Not long now.

10.15 am: Drivers, start your engines!

10.30 am: Holding under formation laps behind the Safety Car. The tight Turn 3 looks particularly treacherous.

Safety Car lights are off, we’re about to go green!

Lap 1: Single file start off the Safety Car, with van Gisbergen holding third as Reddick takes the lead off pole-sitter Hamlin. Van Gisbergen drops to fourth mid-lap as Christpher Bell takes his position.

Chaos! A spinner on the back straight and three cars running straight at slow speed into Turn 6. All able to reverse out and resume, no caution.

Lap 2: Hamlin slides into the tyres at slow speed at Turn 2, SVG back to third!

Lap 3: Reddick’s lead is already 6 seconds, SVG putting pressure on Bell for second, with fourth-placed Suarez 6 seconds back.

Safety Car!

Kyle Busch runs into the tyres at speed at Turn 6, wedging his Cherolet under the barrier. He’ll get a tow out and may be able to resume. Car surprisngly looks ok given the speed of the impact, he may have been helped in. Tyres doing their job. Those gaps are already reduced to nothing.

Turn 6 seems to be the cause of a lot of problems for the field.

Lap 6: Green again. SVG holds third and keeps on the back of Bell. Cars behind are battling as the front three resumes where they left off and immediately begin to pull clear.

Lap 8: Bell now pressuring Reddick for the lead. SVG is third and 8 seconds ahead of McDowell, who has passed Suarez for fourth.

Lap 9: Turn 6 strikes again! Reddick locks up and slides wide under pressure from Bell, which allows the #20 through to the lead. SVG 3 seconds off the lead but over 10 seconds clear of McDowell. A rhythm is starting to set in.

Lap 12: SVG is now on the rear of Reddick, who seems to be struggling. Bell clearing out in front.

Lap 13: Caution!

Turn 6 again. This time Gragson wedged in the tyres. Putting on a smoke show trying to get out. Should be able to resume after he receives assistance out.

Lap 16: Green again! Single file restart sees SVG keep third. Truex Jr now fourth and keeps pace with the front three.

Lap 20: Truex Jnr dropping back now. SVG right on the back of Reddick as Stage 1 comes to an end. In terms of SVG’s race, stages aren’t particularly relevant, providing championship points to the front runners.

Lap 21: First car switches to slicks. It’s Briscoe, who seems to be struggling over the early part of the lap. Still lots of standing water at the end of the lap.

Lap 22: Logano in the tyres at six! Reverses out and continues. It’s all going on as Button is spun entering pit lane and left facing the wrong way. Does a flick turn right in front of Logano, who is entering the lane following his impact earlier in the lap.

Lap 23: SVG passes Reddick for second as this was all unfolding! Quickly pulls a gap as he goes about hunting down Bell, who is 2 seconds up the road.

Lap 24: SVG laps four-tenths faster than Bell.

Lap 26: Van Gisbergen takes the lead as Bell boxes. Reddick is also in behind.

Lap 27: SVG in for slicks. Bell retakes the lead, SVG returns to third, but Bilicki ahead is yet to stop.

Lap 30: Another caution!

Gragson is in the Turn 6 barriers once again and is wedged. SVG now second, following Bilicki’s stop.

Lap 34: Green again, and Reddick retakes second off van Gisbergen at Turn 1. Larson is in fourth and keeping up with the Kiwi.

Lap 35: Larson passes van Gisbergen for third, Suarez follows through to drop SVG to fifth, exposed to Truex Jr. The switch to slicks has brought the field back into this.

Lap 36: Truex Jr gets through for fifth at Turn 6, only to lose traction at the exit to allow SVG back into the position.

Lap 38: Issues with SVG’s radio, no major cause for concern. Bell putting a massive gap on the field.

Lap 40: Truex Jr has dropped back, and McDowell is now sixth and losing ground on SVG.

Lap 41: A fourth caution!

Hamlin and Bowman make contact, leaving the latter stranded precariously against the tyres as the entire field snakes through. He returns. Won’t be a long intervention.

Lap 43: Green again, and Surez bumps the wall at the exit of Turn 1 off the restart! SVG is back to fourth. Much better to restart this time around.

And we’re back to caution!

Bowman returned to the track but has issues with his engine. The fire extinguishers are out, but no visible flames, just a lot of smoke. He’s stopped on the entry to the pit lane. Won’t be a long intervention again.

Stage 2 ends with Bell still in front.

The race has been reduced to 75 laps due to the delayed start.

Lap 46: The news of the 25-lap reduction has seen the field coming to the lane en masse for a final stop. Still under caution.

Lap 49: We’re green again! Van Gisbergen is 18th but stopped under caution. He lost places to McDowell and Suarez in the lane.

Lap 50: The track is blocked!

Massive pileup mid-field. Multiple spinners, a car in the barriers and yet another caution. SVG is not involved but is caught behind. He’ll still gain places when the order is re-established. He’s 14th, but the order may be adjusted.

Lap 53: Green again! SVG 18th after the order is reshuffled.

Truex spins in front of the field mid-lap but escapes unscathed. Two places gained for SVG. McDowell and Suarez are behind.

Lap 54: Gragson at Turn 6, again, this time side on… He gets out and continues.

Lap 56: Bell spins!

The early race leader is left pointing in the wrong direction at Turn 1 after contact with the tyres, and the field funnels through.

Van Gisbergen is on a charge forward and is already back in the top 10!

Lap 58: Now Reddick is off!

Turn 6 strikes again, he’s buried in the barriers, and we’ll get our seventh caution.

Van Gisbergen is up to eighth.

There are 16 laps left to run, and Haley is currently leading Dillon, Elliott, Busch and Logano. Haley started 37th, Dillon 29th and Elliott 26th. All comes down to pit strategy under caution.

Lap 60: Great move from SVG on Larson off the restart! Up to seventh and charging. He’s all over Cindric’s bumper.

Lap 62: Dillon into the tyres and damaged! Limps to the lane.

Another position gained for SVG, who also gets past Cindric. Fifth!

Lap 65: SVG is the fastest car on the track and is up to third! 10 laps to go! He’s 1.2 seconds per lap faster than the leaders!

More drama further back at Turn 1, no caution.

Lap 66: They’re nose to tail! SVG takes second!!! Only Haley is ahead!

Lap 67: This is thrilling! He has already bridged the gap with Haley and briefly takes the lead, but it’s short-lived as there’s another caution!

There are seven laps to run, we’re under caution, and SVG is 2nd and has much fresher tyres and better pace than the leader. Does he have enough time left when we go green?

Five laps to go, Safety Car lights are off…

Lap 70: He takes the lead at Turn 2! Haley briefly retakes, but van Gisbergen takes it back off him at 3!

Lap 71: Just four laps to go, and SVG’s lead is already over 1 second!

Lap 73: Haley’s holding second, and the gap has remained steady! The #47 Chevy is in the tyres with help from Bubba Wallace. We’re going into overtime following another caution.

It’s a two-lap shootout with SVG in the lead.

Still under caution…

Safety car lights are off…

SVG launches well and pulls a small gap over Haley into 1. Gap’s increasing.

One to go. The gap is just under 1 second.

He’s holding it.

He does it! Shane van Gisbergen wins!

An incredible burnout and massive celebrations!