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Shane van Gisbergen will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut Feb. 17 at Daytona. Though he will be the most experienced overall driver to have rookie status this season, the three-time Australian Supercars champion and Cup Series winner has some trepidation about superspeedway racing.

Daytona International Speedway (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Daytona International Speedway (James Gilbert/Getty Images)

“Superspeedways are what I’m most anxious about, I guess, or unsure about what’s going to happen or how the car drives,” SVG said in a teleconference reported by NASCAR.com, adding, “it’s so far removed from everything I’ve ever done.”

SVG will be thrown into the deep end of the proverbial pool even before taking to Daytona in the Xfinity Series.

Trackhouse Racing president Ty Norris said in a SiriusXM NASCAR Radio interview Dec. 15 van Gisbergen is set to cut his teeth in the ARCA Series opening race at Daytona the same day as his Xfinity debut.

“That’ll lead to an approval for Daytona, and once he’s approved at Daytona, we’ll be able to go to any track on the circuit,” Norris said.

The Daytona ARCA 200 takes place at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 with the Xfinity Series’ United Rentals 300 set to take the green flag at 5 p.m. later that day. Further details regarding SVG’s ARCA debut, including for which team he will drive, have not yet been announced.

Van Gisbergen will make his Xfinity debut at Daytona with a unique NASCAR resume. He’s already a winner in the Cup Series, taking a thrilling win in his first NASCAR start at the Cup Series’ inaugural Chicago Street Race. SVG followed up his dramatic debut win with a top-10 at the Indianapolis Road Course race.

But his oval racing resume is almost nonexistent. SVG has run just one oval race in his career, the 2023 Craftsman Truck Series race at Indianapolis Raceway Park. He placed 19th.

Of course, the 0.686-mile oval of IRP is a far cry from the 2.5-mile Daytona superspeedway.

SVG said he’s been studying superspeedway racing ahead of his debut. Still, he seems to already have a grasp of pack racing.

“Watching that, it’s been like a high-speed chess match, but also the lottery in some ways,” van Gisbergen said.

SVG will compete full time for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2024 driving the No. 97 Chevrolet. Announced Dec. 13, WeatherTech will serve as the team’s primary sponsor.

SVG will also drive seven races in the Cup Series for Trackhouse. They include road course races at Circuit of the Americas, Watkins Glen, and the Chicago Street Race. Also included is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, the October race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and both Talladega races.

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Joe Parker

Joe Parker is an expert in new cars, trucks, and SUVs — particularly their driving dynamics, features, and real-world pragmatism — gleaning his first-hand perspectives through his testing and reviewing of hundreds of new models since 2018.

His motorsports coverage reflects his hands-on hours behind the wheel. A recipient of over 20 awards from several state and national journalism associations, Joe is a member of the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) and the Southeast Region Automotive Media Association (SERAMA).