Shane van Gisbergen's biggest NASCAR weekend yet

Throughout its history, the Daytona 500 has been won by some of NASCAR’s most legendary figures. Richard Petty holds the record with seven victories, while Dale Earnhardt finally captured his first and only 500 win in 1998 after years of heartbreak. More recently, drivers like Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano have added their names to the list of champions.

In 2025, Shane van Gisbergen’s name could join that list. The Kiwi will make his NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 debut on Monday, marking another huge step in his NASCAR career. The Supercars champion has a standout debut year in the Xfinity Series, finishing 2024 as a multiple race winner. His background in the top Aussie touring car championship, has given him a great understanding of car control, but superspeedway racing presents a different challenge - one that’s less about throwing a car through a set of corners and more about trusting the guy centimeters from your door at over 300km/h.

Unlike the street and road courses where van Gisbergen has thrived, Daytona requires a pretty unique skill set. Drafting, pack racing, and managing the flow of air around the car are all crucial. Drivers must work with others in the draft while positioning themselves for a chance to win in the final laps. Small mistakes can be costly, and avoiding trouble in the early stages is key to having a shot at victory.

Van Gisbergen’s adaptability will be tested, but he has already shown an ability to learn quickly. His success in the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series Clash two weeks prior has provided valuable experience.

Many international drivers have transitioned to NASCAR, but few have done so with the level of success SVG has achieved this early on, with the Kiwi’s sights set firmly on adding the Daytona 500 to his list of victories.