He conquered Supercars and silenced doubters with a stunning Cup Series debut. And now, the Kiwi phenom, Shane van Gisbergen, sets his sights on a new challenge: taming the unpredictable high banks of the Daytona International Speedway in the NXS season-opener, the United Rentals 300. But do not underestimate this relative ‘outsider’. He’s not just here for a quick spin. With the legendary “Tasmanian Devil,” Marcos Ambrose, a former Cup series standout and 2-time Supercars champion whispering sage advice in his ears, SVG is poised to conquer the superspeedways and carve his own impressive path heading into the 2024 NASCAR season.

Van Gisbergen’s newfound qualifying prowess at ‘The World Center of Racing’ speaks volumes about his adaptability to the high-speed world of NASCAR. Clocking in at 49.83s, he secured the fifth-fastest starting spot for the Xfinity race, showcasing his potential to contend with seasoned competitors. Despite a rain-induced delay, anticipation is building for his debut on the iconic trioval, promising an adrenaline-packed performance.

In recent discussions on Corey Lajoie’s podcast, “Stacking Pennies,” van Gisbergen shed light on the guidance he has received from the ex-Team Penske driver. Highlighting the vast experience Ambrose was able to impart after a stellar seven-year Cup  Series career on the other side of the pond, the Trackhouse Racing prospect elaborated:

“it was mainly all driving stuff like how to feel the car set in the corner and I even felt it at Daytona, like you know we’re driving with a steering box… You’re driving down the street and the car’s kind of loaded to the right, then as you turn in nothing kind of happens you know and then the steering box kind of kicks in and you feel the car load up on the tire…  You’re still flat into the corner there but there’s that small moment where nothing happens where you have a bit of ‘oh is this thing going to turn?’, you know. Just stuff like that.”

Watch This Story: Shane van Gisbergen Expressed His Concerns Heading To Daytona

Beyond technical advice, van Gisbergen also gleaned valuable insights into the mental aspect of racing.

From v8 Supercars to the high banks of NASCAR

“These races are longer than anything I’ve ever done before,” he acknowledged, referring to the extended duration of NASCAR events compared to Supercars. “Especially when I go and do the double on the Coke 600 weekend… that’s a thousand miles of racing!”

But SVG is no shrinking violet. He embraces the challenge, fueled by his competitive spirit and the knowledge that Ambrose paved the way for Oceanic success. “Marcos Ambrose is a great example,” he declared in a recent statement on Peter Stratta’s YouTube channel, drawing parallels between their journeys. “He sent me a lot of advice…and that’s what I want to emulate…get into the Cup Series and be successful. He had a great time here and loved his experience. So I’d like to be like that.”

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His NASCAR journey began with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program, catching the attention of team owner Justin Marks during his debut win at the inaugural Grant Park 250 in the streets of Chicago. Since then, he has set records, becoming the first New Zealand NASCAR winner and achieving back-to-back top-ten finishes in his early Cup Series outings. Can van Gisbergen channel Marcos Ambrose’s wisdom and carve his own legend in the 2024 Xfinity Series season? The roar of engines at Daytona will soon provide the answer.

Shane Van Gisbergen Talks About His Learning Journey After Signing With Kevin Harvick Incorporated