"It's pretty big thing to work toward" - Shane van Gisbergen chasing unconquered NASCAR challenge

Shane van Gisbergen recently revealed the No. 1 thing on his bucket list that he's aiming to achieve. Van Gisbergen, who is a street-course ace, wants to conquer the unique challenges of oval track racing.

After a remarkable NASCAR Cup debut victory at the Chicago Street Race with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, the three-time Supercars champion has committed to learning an entirely new race craft — especially when it comes to oval racing, as NASCAR consists an oval-heavy schedule.

In his rookie Xfinity season, he's learning and showed growth with top-20 finishes at some of the toughest ovals on the schedule.

Ahead of Sunday’s Grant Park 165, Shane van Gisbergen expressed his ambition to win a race on an oval track in a NASCAR national series. He admitted that chasing this goal will require time, as he's in a rookie season and not enough skilled to secure a win at the oval.

Speaking to The Athletic's Jeff Gluck about his unconquered NASCAR challenge, SVG said:

“Probably to win on an oval. I just know it’s gonna take time and I’m not there yet, but it’s a pretty big thing to work toward.”

Van Gisbergen is also participating in select Cup races this year, with a goal of adjusting himself to NASCAR’s oval racing before moving into full-time Cup racing. Weighing more on oval racing, Van Gisbergen said (via motorsports.com):

“I want to get better at the ovals. It'll be definitely awesome to win (an oval) race one day, but I know I'm a long way from that—winning one on merit.

"I know that I'm always going to be good on a road course. That'll just come naturally. It's the ovals I need to keep getting better at.”

Through 18 races in Xfinity Series, SVG has two wins, but both came on road courses.

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Shane van Gisbergen believes defending Chicago's win “going to be tough”

One year ago, the 35-year-old New Zealand driver had burst onto the NASCAR scene after winning the NASCAR Cup Series’ first race on a street course. SVG is returning for the second edition of the Chicago Cup race this weekend. He's the favorite to win it again.

Ahead of Sunday’s race, when asked about repeating the victory, Shane van Gisbergen said (via motorsports.com):

“But yeah, if you’re third row back, it’s going to be carnage – maybe not carnage – but difficult to stay clean through there. I think that worked out pretty well last year. But this year, it’s going to be tough.”

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Watch Shane van Gisbergen in action at Chicago Street Course this weekend.