In his NASCAR Cup Series debut, Shane van Gisbergen emerged victorious on a rainy Sunday in downtown Chicago. Van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars champion from New Zealand, drove the No. 91 Chevrolet as part of Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91, which aims to provide international drivers with opportunities in NASCAR.
Van Gisbergen showcased his skill by chasing down Justin Haley and Chase Elliott in a thrilling finish to the series’ first street race. After passing Elliott, van Gisbergen engaged in a duel with Haley and eventually moved into the lead for good. Haley secured second place, with Elliott finishing third.
The 34-year-old van Gisbergen made history by becoming the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win their Cup Series debut. He also joined the ranks of Marcos Ambrose, Mario Andretti, Juan Pablo Montoya, Earl Ross, and Daniel Suárez as one of only six non-U.S. born drivers to win a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 was born out of owner Justin Marks’ desire to bring his love of global motorsport to NASCAR. Van Gisbergen’s win marked the first lap led by Project 91 in three starts.
Van Gisbergen’s NASCAR debut was aided by crew chief Darian Grubb, who was instrumental in Tony Stewart’s Cup Series championship victory in 2011. The victory in Chicago followed Trackhouse Racing’s previous win with Ross Chastain at Nashville Superspeedway.
The race in Chicago faced numerous challenges, including a historic rainfall that caused flooding on the course and led to a delay of over 90 minutes. The event was ultimately shortened due to fading sunlight. Despite the adverse conditions, van Gisbergen’s impressive performance sealed his triumphant debut.
The race also featured incidents such as drivers sliding into tire barriers due to the wet track and a major pileup involving 14 cars. Despite the challenges, the event was well-received, with Justin Haley expressing his enthusiasm and hoping for a return in the future.
