"Going to be a challenge": Shane van Gisbergen ahead of Watkins Glen run as Kaulig Racing eye to triumph the Xfinity battle

Shane van Gisbergen, who is preparing for the second last race of the Xfinity Series regular season, recently expressed his apprehensions. This weekend, he will also compete in the Cup race at Watkins Glen. He acknowledged that while the upcoming race at Watkins Glen—a road course familiar to him—it will not be easy.

Given that the race will be one of the last chances for Xfinity drivers to qualify for the playoffs, heightened competition and potential chaos are anticipated. Likewise, in the Cup race, being the second race of the Round of 16, Watkins Glen will be another difficult race since the top 16 would try their best to get into the Round of 12 by winning the race.

So far this season, Shane van Gisbergen has won the most races in the Xfinity regular season with three victories, amassing 574 points and securing the 12th position. However, his first appearance at Watkins Glen in the NASCAR Cup Series, coupled with the introduction of a new tire compound from Goodyear, has heightened his concerns. SVG expressed these feelings in an interview with Racing America:

"It’s a road course, so I’m excited to see how my WeatherTech Chevrolet will stack up with the rest of the field. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge, but a lot of fun. [...]"

"I’ve raced [at Watkins Glen International] before, but this time will be a completely different experience in a stock car. I’m looking forward to going out [this weekend] and having fun in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. Hopefully we can celebrate in Victory Lane again."

In the Cup Series, Shane van Gisbergen has successfully qualified for P12 in the road courses at Chicago and COTA, but his race outcomes have been less fortunate. In Chicago, he was involved in a wreck, and at COTA, he encountered a mechanical issue finishing the races at P40 and P20 respectively.

---

Shane van Gisbergen is set to take the wheel of the Next Gen car as a full-time driver next year

After delivering impressive performances in the Xfinity Series this season, Shane van Gisbergen will pilot the #88 Chevrolet Camaro for Trackhouse in 2025, with Stephen Doran serving as the crew chief, as the team expands to a three-car operation. He will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez as the third Cup race driver for the Trackhouse Racing team.

Van Gisbergen's Xfinity victories at Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago have not only won him a spot in the 2024 playoffs but also showed his improvement on oval tracks. His top finishes include third place at Atlanta, fourth at Indianapolis, and sixth at Phoenix.

Throughout the current season, Shane van Gisbergen has participated in seven NASCAR Cup races, with his highest finish being 20th at the Circuit of the Americas. As he transitions to driving the Next Gen car alongside seasoned drivers like Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, and Kyle Larson, it will be intriguing to watch how he adapts and competes at the new level.