Shane van Gisbergen to race at Watkins Glen as the most dominant road course Xfinity driver of 2024 

With the 2024 NASCAR postseason underway, Watkins Glen International is all set to host a Cup Series playoff race for the first time. Former Supercars champion and Kaulig Racing driver Shane van Gisbergen, also known as SVG, will enter Sunday's race as the most dominant road course Xfinity Series driver of the season.

SVG made his Cup Series debut last year in the Grant Park 220 at the Chicago Road Course. The three-time Bathurst 1000 winner emerged victorious in his maiden Cup Series race, following in the footsteps of Johnny Rutherford, a former automobile racing driver, who won his debut Cup race back in 1963. With that, Shane van Gisbergen became one of six non-American drivers to win a Cup Series race.

Currently, Gisbergen drives the No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevy full-time in the Xfinity Series. He also drives the No. 97 machine in partnership with Trackhouse Racing, part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

According to journalist Joe Srigley, van Gisbergen leads the NASCAR Xfinity Series field on points earned on road courses. He owns 172 points, followed by Parker Kligerman and Austin Hill with 153 and 151 points, respectively. JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier and Stewart-Haas Racing's Cole Custer wound up in the top-5.

Gisbergen's first win of the season came at Portland Raceway, where he beat Allgaier by 0.941 seconds. The 35-year-old New Zealander amassed two more wins at Sonoma and Chicago. All three wins were on road courses. Gisbergen sits 12th in the Xfinity standings with 574 points to his name.

"It’s not going to be easy"- Shane van Gisbergen predicts his day at 'The Glen'

Despite his array of accolades in the Xfinity Series, Shane van Gisbergen is yet to deliver a top-10 finish in the Cup Series. Replicating his success at the Xfinity level with the NextGen Cup car could be somewhat challenging.

"I’ve raced (at Watkins Glen International) before, but this time will be a completely different experience in a stock car," Gisbergen explained in a recent pre-race interview. "I’m looking forward to going out and having fun in our WeatherTech Chevrolet. Hopefully we can celebrate in Victory Lane again."

"It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge, but a lot of fun," he added.

Trackhouse Racing has tapped the three-time Supercars champion to drive their No. 88 car full-time in the Cup Series for 2025. The Chevy team bought their third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing, which is deemed to shut down at the end of this year. SVG will join teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez forming Trackhouse Racing's three-car roster for the upcoming season.

Fans can watch SVG in action on Sunday, September 15 from 3 PM ET onwards on NBC Sports and USA. Radio updates will be available live on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.