Shane van Gisbergen has drawn significant attention in the Cup Series after his surprising victory at the inaugural Mexico City race last season. As the NASCAR circuit moves to Chicago for its third street race, Michael McDowell has cast doubt on the reigning champion’s dominance at this venue, challenging the popular belief that van Gisbergen is unbeatable in Chicago. The focus now turns to whether the Trackhouse Racing star’s momentum in the Playoffs will continue or face resistance on these challenging streets.
Van Gisbergen won the first official Chicago Street Race two years ago but struggled last season after crashing out, ending his hopes prematurely. Despite this patchy record, many expect the Kiwi driver to be a strong contender in this year’s race. However, McDowell believes the uncertainty last year demonstrated that van Gisbergen can be outperformed on this circuit.
McDowell Highlights Van Gisbergen’s Vulnerability Despite Talent
Michael McDowell acknowledged van Gisbergen’s exceptional skills but emphasized that the New Zealander is not invincible on the Chicago track. McDowell’s perspective challenges the narrative of van Gisbergen as an unbeatable force, suggesting that the 2024 race exposed potential weak points. McDowell insists that the street race doesn’t guarantee another triumph for the Trackhouse Racing ace this time around, projecting a tougher contest ahead.
“I mean, yes and no. He wasn’t that great there last year. You know, I think that he’s had some standout races, there’s no doubt, he’s an amazing talent. But he’s beatable, he’s not unbeatable.”
—Michael McDowell, NASCAR driver
His comments reference van Gisbergen’s mixed results in Chicago, where last season’s crash significantly undermined the Kiwi’s chances. McDowell’s remarks come amid widespread anticipation about van Gisbergen’s continued success, especially after his recent Mexico City win.
McDowell’s Strategy to Take on Van Gisbergen in Chicago
When asked how he plans to challenge van Gisbergen in the upcoming Chicago race, McDowell expressed confidence in his approach. He believes he has an edge that could disrupt van Gisbergen’s rhythm on the streets of Chicago, citing his own experience from the Mexico City race as a basis for optimism.
“I asked Michael McDowell how he was going to beat Shane van Gisbergen this weekend at Chicago considering how well SVG ran at Mexico City. McDowell feels he should have something for SVG (and felt he did at Mexico City as well).”
—Bob Pockrass, NASCAR reporter
This belief stems from McDowell’s previous close contest with van Gisbergen in Mexico City, where he expected to be competitive if not for some critical race developments.
Late Caution Played a Key Role in Mexico City Victory, According to McDowell
The Mexico City event was marked by intense competition and unpredictability. While local hero Daniel Suarez won the Xfinity Series race to the acclaim of the crowd, the following day saw van Gisbergen claim a surprising Cup Series victory. However, McDowell attributed part of van Gisbergen’s success to a well-timed caution flag late in the race, which helped secure his lead at a crucial moment.
McDowell suggested that, without this caution, he and rookie Ty Gibbs would have posed a significant challenge to van Gisbergen. He believed they could have pressured the Kiwi driver more and potentially shifted the race outcome in their favor.
“No, it’s just caution fell right for him. I think Ty Gibbs and I would have given him a run for his money.”
—Michael McDowell, NASCAR driver
Despite this, McDowell gave credit to van Gisbergen and his team for executing a strong performance throughout the weekend.
“But that doesn’t take away how well he executed and how well his team executed. Qualified on the pole, that was the first step. Controlled the race and was leading when it counted. But you know, the 16-second lead, I restarted 18th on that last restart and drove up into the top five. I think that had I started next to him, he would have had a challenge.”
—Michael McDowell, NASCAR driver
Chicago Race Stakes Heighten as Playoffs Progress
As the NASCAR season approaches its critical phase, van Gisbergen’s form in Chicago has implications beyond a single race. While the Trackhouse Racing driver has comfortably secured his Playoff position, many others, including McDowell, are fighting to advance further. The Chicago street race often proves to be unpredictable, and McDowell’s challenge signals potential vulnerabilities in van Gisbergen’s campaign.
With over a dozen drivers scrambling for coveted Playoff spots, van Gisbergen could influence the standings by hindering contenders like McDowell. This dynamic makes the Chicago event a pivotal moment in the season, where strategy, skill, and timing will be crucial for all competitors.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen quit Supercars?
A. Shane van Gisbergen believes it was “right” to leave Supercars and aim for a NASCAR career. This year, he is starting his first full season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing after competing in Supercars for 15 years.
Q. Why did Shane van Gisbergen leave Supercars?
A. I’m leaving V8 Supercars for personal reasons that I’d prefer not to talk about publicly. I’m going back to New Zealand and don’t have set plans yet.
