Shane van Gisbergen’s return to Chicago this weekend is more than just another race — it’s a full-circle moment for one of motorsport’s most versatile talents. Just a year ago, the New Zealander stunned the NASCAR world when he made his Cup Series debut on the streets of Chicago, winning in dramatic fashion and instantly becoming a name to watch in American stock car racing. Now, as he heads back to the city where his NASCAR dream ignited, Van Gisbergen’s journey reflects both how far he’s come and how much more he hopes to achieve.
In 2023, Van Gisbergen was already a household name among Supercars fans. With multiple championships and Bathurst 1000 victories under his belt, he was widely regarded as one of the best touring car drivers of his generation. But few could have predicted how seamlessly he would adapt to NASCAR’s unique demands. When Trackhouse Racing offered him a seat for the inaugural Chicago Street Race, many thought it was a fun experiment — a one-off cameo for an international star. What they got instead was a masterclass in adaptability and racecraft.
On a rain-soaked, unfamiliar street circuit, Van Gisbergen outdrove seasoned Cup Series veterans. His win made him the first driver in over 60 years to win on his NASCAR Cup Series debut — an achievement that not only turned heads but also opened doors. Almost overnight, the Kiwi racer became one of the hottest stories in NASCAR. His performance silenced skeptics who questioned whether a Supercars ace could handle the stock car behemoths on tight American circuits.
Following that fairytale debut, Van Gisbergen decided to fully commit to a NASCAR future. He signed a multi-year deal with Trackhouse Racing, embracing a steep learning curve that would take him from road courses — his natural playground — to ovals and superspeedways that require a completely different skill set. For someone accustomed to racing high-downforce cars on road and street courses, NASCAR’s heavy, low-grip machines on banked ovals presented a new puzzle to solve.
Over the past year, Van Gisbergen has split his time between the NASCAR Xfinity Series and select Cup Series starts. He’s notched solid finishes on road courses and steadily gained experience on the ovals. Every lap, every pit stop, every pack draft teaches him something new about a racing discipline that is as much about patience and strategy as it is about outright speed.
Chicago holds a special place in his heart because it’s where this adventure began. The street course — a rare addition to the traditional NASCAR schedule — played perfectly to Van Gisbergen’s strengths, blending his Supercars expertise with NASCAR’s robust showmanship. As the series returns for its second running of the Chicago Street Race, Van Gisbergen will once again be one of the favorites. He’s no longer the surprise wildcard but a proven threat, especially when the turns are tight and the braking zones punishing.
The return is also symbolic for NASCAR. Van Gisbergen’s breakout success last year highlighted the sport’s push to attract new audiences and global talent. His story shows what can happen when NASCAR thinks outside its oval-shaped box and embraces diversity — not just in drivers’ backgrounds, but in racing formats and venues. The Chicago event itself is part of NASCAR’s broader effort to reimagine what stock car racing can look like in the 21st century — urban, international, and open to cross-discipline stars.
For Van Gisbergen, the return is both a chance to relive the magic and prove his development. He’s no longer the wide-eyed newcomer figuring out how pit stops work under NASCAR’s unique rules. He’s now a driver who’s fought for stage points on ovals, survived the rough-and-tumble world of pack racing, and earned the respect of hardened Cup Series regulars. Winning again in Chicago would cement his status as more than just a road-course ringer — it would signal that he’s here to stay and contend across the board.
Of course, challenges remain. The Chicago Street Race is unpredictable by nature. Weather can wreak havoc, concrete barriers leave no room for error, and restarts are chaotic. But if last year proved anything, it’s that Van Gisbergen thrives in chaos. His calm under pressure, precision in traffic, and instinct for finding grip where others can’t have already made him a fan favorite.
As he straps into his car this weekend, Van Gisbergen will have the weight of expectation he didn’t carry last year. But he also has a year’s worth of NASCAR lessons, a growing American fan base, and a team fully behind him. No matter the outcome, his return to Chicago reminds everyone how a single race can change a career — and how a driver from half a world away can inspire a new chapter in NASCAR’s story.
For Shane van Gisbergen, Chicago isn’t just a race — it’s where a new dream took root. And this weekend, he’s back to chase it f
urther down the road.
