NASCAR drivers preparing to follow Shane van Gisbergen’s style at Chicago as per Justin Allgaier

During a recent press conference at the Chicago Street Course, Justin Allgaier opined that the NASCAR Cup Series drivers will attempt to follow Shane Van Gisbergen's driving style during Sunday's Grant Park 165. Gisbergen dominated and, therefore, won last year's rain-shortened inaugural race at Chicago, which was also his debut Cup Series start.

The feat that Shane Van Gisbergen, better known as SVG, pulled off was special. It was the first time in 60 years that a driver had emerged victorious in their debut Cup Series race since Johnny Rutherford did it by winning the Duel 2 at Daytona back in 1963.

Speaking of which, Justin Allgaier, who drives the number 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series told the reporters that the Cup drivers will try to imitate SVG's driving style all day. Shane Van Gisbergen held off Justin Allgaier a few weeks back at Portland International Raceway, en route to the former's second win of the 2024 Xfinity season.

"I think this week will be interesting with the track being dry. Last year with the track being wet, he had a significant advantage in the wet over everybody else." said Justin Alligaier. "Every Cup driver has every intention of driving just like SVG did last year."

"It'd be very interesting (to see)how that works out. Good for them; I'm not changing my driving style," he laughed.

The Grant Park 165 is the fifth of the seven select Cup Series races that Shane Van Gisbergen was slated to run for the number 16 Kaulig Racing team at the beginning of this season. The remainder of his Cup stint includes a pair of races at Watkins Glen in September and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October.

Justin Allgaier predicts Shane Van Gisbergen's Chicago comeback

Justin Allgaier feels that Shane Van Gisbergen is way more comfortable driving the NextGen Cup car than driving an Xfinity Series machine. On that note, Allgaier said in the previous interview:

"He (Shane Van Gisbergen) has been very vocal about it, that the Cup series car matches way more in line with what he's used to. So, do I think he is the favorite? Yeah, I still think he's the favorite."

Following those comments, the 38-year-old race car driver predicted exactly what SVG might do better than the other drivers in the field.

"One of the advantages he will have is I think he will get up to speed a lot faster than everybody else," Allgaier suggested.

Nevertheless, Justin Allgaier also observed that there are several great road course racers among the Cup Series regulars as well. And this time, all of them are well-versed with the do's and don'ts of road racing under wet track conditions, lest it should rain again.

"Tomorrow morning, he will be the fastest car by far, and then as everybody is comfortable, he will see some guys get a little bit closer," Justin Allgaier continued. "We got a lot of road racers too in our series. He's definitely gonna be the target."

Nevertheless, Shane Van Gisbergen has proven his expertise in running road races by winning at Sonoma Raceway (also a road course) in June. Therefore, Gisbergen will most likely be a fierce contender this year as well.