By NATE RYAN
Labeling statistics as “type of an American factor,” Shane van Gisbergen avoids dwelling on his record-setting rookie season within the NASCAR Cup Sequence.
“It usually hits me on the aircraft journey dwelling or at 4 a.m. after a couple of beers,” van Gisbergen mentioned Sunday after conquering the Watkins Glen Worldwide street course in New York for his fourth victory this 12 months. “I attempt to replicate on it, however I additionally try to get to the following week fairly fast. I’ll strive to not tweet at 4 a.m. this morning.”
If the laid-back Kiwi have been into chest-pounding on social media, the checklist of heady accomplishments consists of being the third driver with 4 consecutive Cup wins on street or avenue programs, becoming a member of 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Corridor of Famer Jeff Gordon.
It additionally consists of being the primary rookie with 4 victories — breaking a tie with seven-time season champion Jimmie Johnson and three-time champion Tony Stewart — and the biggest margin of victory (11.116 seconds) in Watkins Glen historical past and second largest this season behind his 16.567-second win at Mexico Metropolis that was the largest hole from first to second since 2009.
The subsequent achievement might be the loftiest but for the motive force from Auckland, New Zealand, who struggles massively on the ovals that comprise a lot of the season.
Can van Gisbergen be a authentic championship contender in 12 months 1?
Trackhouse Racing proprietor Justin Marks, who put his status on the road and satisfied sponsors to threat thousands and thousands on an audacious plan to make the Cup playoffs with an inexperienced and unheralded rookie, suggests a deep run awaits the No. 88 Chevrolet.
“Shane simply continues to go showcase why we’ve made a long-term dedication to him, why we introduced him over right here from New Zealand and constructed this workforce round him,” mentioned Marks, who signed van Gisbergen to a multiyear extension final week. “As a result of in a sport like this the place profitable is so necessary and so exhausting to do, in case you can catch some lightning in a bottle like we’ve acquired with SVG, you’ve acquired to essentially lean into it. That’s what we’ve executed. It’s like seeing a plan come collectively.”
The plan now has a path to the doorstep of a Cup title.
The primary spherical of 16 drivers is contested on three ovals, however van Gisbergen has a large 22-point cushion (victories are price 5 factors apiece for the playoffs) to beat a 26.9 common end on ovals.
Pared right down to 12 drivers, the second spherical encompasses a street course at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A win there would catapult a driver into the third spherical, the place eight drivers will sq. off for 4 berths within the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway.
“He’s in a extremely good place,” Marks mentioned. “I believe we’ve an actual alternative to get to the Spherical of 8.”
The playoffs open at difficult Darlington Raceway, whose odd form is among the many most tough layouts in NASCAR, however van Gisbergen is extra involved concerning the first-round cutoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway. He completed thirty eighth in his April 13 debut on the Tennessee quick monitor.
“I ran horrible there,” mentioned van Gisbergen, who completed twentieth every week earlier at Darlington. “Bristol was so removed from something I’ve ever executed, and that’s a extremely robust place. That’s in all probability the largest fear. Darlington, I really feel high-quality, particularly now that we’ve a whole lot of factors. You’ve simply acquired to have three stable weeks, and also you may get by. We simply need to play the averages, make no errors and ensure we’re in a great place each week.”
Zilisch future
After pulling Connor Zilisch from the Cup race at Watkins Glen, Marks mentioned it’s unclear when the Xfinity Sequence factors chief will return from the damaged collarbone he suffered whereas celebrating his series-high sixth victory Saturday. With approval from NASCAR, Zilisch may skip the ultimate three regular-season races and nonetheless be eligible for the Xfinity playoffs.
“He’s an enormous asset and an enormous a part of the way forward for the enterprise,” Marks mentioned. “We’ve to make it possible for we’re not hurting any long-term alternatives by making the most of a short-term alternative.”
Having raced with a damaged collarbone in 2021, van Gisbergen believes Zilisch may return for the Aug. 22 race at Daytona Worldwide Speedway.
“I had a weekend off and raced the following week, so just about what he’s going to undergo,” van Gisbergen mentioned. “I’d get a plate put in after which take it out on the finish of the 12 months. It’s clearly going to be in ache. My greatest drawback was tightening the belts. I may actually really feel the plate by the pores and skin, and it was a horrible feeling. However I raced the following week and did fairly effectively. For certain with some good medical doctors and a few good medication, he’ll get by the race high-quality.”
Impressing the boss
With workforce proprietor Michael Jordan in attendance, Bubba Wallace completed eighth at Watkins Glen (a spot forward of 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick) for a season-best fourth consecutive prime 10. The stretch consists of the Brickyard 400 victory that certified Wallace for the playoffs and relieved huge strain from the No. 23 Toyota driver.
“Indy was life-changing,” Wallace mentioned. “It allowed me to not harp on the entire errors that I often make at a street course. The large boss was right here, so it’s good to get MJ a few prime 10s.”
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