AHEAD of his sophomore NASCAR Cup Series season, Shane van Gisbergen has ranked the vibe of the Daytona 500 up there with the Bathurst 1000 and the Le Mans 24, with the stockcar crown jewel event set for a green flag this weekend.
While he has three Bathurst 1000 Peter Brock Trophies to his credit, SVG also has Le Mans experience under his belt, having finished fifth in the GTE Pro class from the 2022 French classic aboard a Ferrari.
The three-time Supercars champ is hoping to convert that ‘big event’ experience to his advantage this weekend.
“I’ve done a few big races, like a Bathurst 1000 and Le Mans 24, I’ve been lucky enough to do those races,” said van Gisbergen.
“You get that vibe and buzz on the pre-race grid; all the drivers and teams are nervous, but then the crowd is super excited.
“It’s a real mix of energy, it’s so cool to soak in these moments and to have the privilege of being a part of something so big like the Daytona 500.
“There is nothing like it.
“I enjoyed it last year. The race buildup is epic, like how much everyone is in to it, seeing the stands full, it’s an amazing racetrack.
“The race didn’t go very well for us last year; we got crashed early and limped around the rest of the race.
“So, hopefully, we can have a bit of a better result this year.
“As an event, it’s different to open the season with the biggest race of the year, but it’s a pretty cool way to start as well! I’m looking forward to it.”
Last time out at Daytona in August last year, van Gisbergen proved to be a frontrunner throughout the race, leading six laps en route to finishing 16th, and in the midst of the lead lap pack at the chequered flag.
Earlier in the season, on debut in the Daytona 500, SVG placed 33rd after being caught up in a second-stage wreck, while in August 2024, he retired his Kaulig Racing Chevrolet with engine issues.
With six superspeedway-drafting style tracks on the Cup schedule, they form an important part of the season’s roster.
Van Gisbergen’s best result at the discipline came in his most recent start at Talladega three starts ago, where he claimed 11th.
In Australia, qualifying at Daytona is scheduled for early afternoon on Thursday, with the twin Duel races determining the final starting order on Friday.
All told, there are nine non-chartered cars that will be looking to make their way into the race, either by topping the qualifying charts or racing their way in through the Duels.
Those fighting for the four places in the field include Chandler Smith, Justin Allgaier, J.J. Yeley, Anthony Aldredo, Casey Mears, Corey Heim, BJ McLeod, Corey LaJoie and Jimmie Johnson.
Johnson will make the race regardless, via a pre-approved provisional, if he otherwise does not qualify his Toyota.
Brad Keselowski, meanwhile, has been approved by NASCAR to start the race, following an off-season broken leg.
Further practice sessions are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday Australian time, with the 200-lap main race set to start at 5:30am AEDT Monday.
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