“Oh hell yeah”: Fans react as Shane van Gisbergen sets sights on Kyle Larson’s stomping ground in dirt racing

NASCAR fans have reacted to Shane van Gisbergen's potential debut in the Chili Bowl. The New Zealander marked his NASCAR debut last year at the 2023 Chicago Cup Series race. His team, Trackhouse Racing's co-owner, Justin Marks is eager to plot his driver in the midget racing as well.

NASCAR drivers Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson have competed at the Chili Bowl. The former is a three-time champion while the latter has claimed two. Now it seems like van Gisbergen's debut is on the cards as Marks is keen on fielding an entry with the 35-year-old.

SVG raced in the midget series from 1998 to 2004 and is not alien to dirt racing. Ahead of the potential Chili Bowl, debut, he said (via Speedcafe).

“Justin's keen to do it and obviously I did some midget racing. It's pretty hard for a big fella to drive those cars. I spoke to Kyle Bush about it, because he did the Tulsa shootout, the micro cars the week before, and it's tough. There's no rules in Chilli Bowl either. You know, they're all lightweight cars, lightweight drivers, so you're at a huge disadvantage being over 60 kilos," van Gisbergen said.

Motorsport journalist Adam Stern shared about the Trackhouse Racing driver's potential debut on X (formerly Twitter).

The update attracted fans' attention and they opined on Shane van Gisbergen's possible midget racing entry.

"Oh hell yeah," one fan wrote.

"Okay this is badass," a fan commented.

"Oh Kyle Larson is bout to get embarrassed might ha r to watch my first ever chili bowl if this comes together," one fan opined.

Some fans, however, opined on Shane van Gibsergen's oval racing, as, all his NASCAR wins came on road courses and not oval tracks.

"Well that wont work he cant drive on ovals so what makes him think he can drive on a small dirt oval," a fan commented.

"He should get better on NASCAR ovals first, otherwise he’s a one trick pony," one fan wrote.

Shane van Gisbergen lands a full-time Cup Series seat with Trackhouse Racing starting in 2025

Before joining the high-octane motorsport, Shane van Gisbergen etched his name among the dominant Supercars Championship drivers. From 508 races in the Series, the 35-year-old has registered 81 wins and three championships (2016, 2021, and 2022). Last year, he crept closer to his fourth title but settled in second.

Since joining NASCAR, the Trackhouse Racing driver has witnessed a fast-paced profession. After sealing the Chicago Street Race win on his debut Cup Series attempt, he posted a tenth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SVG is running a full-time Xfinity Series schedule and has clinched three wins, five top-5s, and six top-10s.

Trackhouse Racing will expand to a three-car Cup team from next year. However, with two candidates for one seat, Zane Smith and SVG, the management had to upset either one. And that was Smith.

While explaining the rationale behind opting for Shane van Gisbergen to field the #88 car than Smith, Trackhouse's co-owner said (via Jeff Gluck on X).

"It's a commercial sport, it's fitting the company, it's personality, all that. We don't have four cars, we have three. We're excited about the decision we made with SVG," Marks said.

While Shane van Gisbergen's Cup Series future stands secure, Zane Smith is yet to sign a deal for next year.