NASCAR '24

[CP]

The worst kept secret for us Antipodes through this year was that SVG was going to be the first full time Kiwi in NASCAR next year.

He signed a full time deal with the Pitbull Co owned Trackhouse Racing team back in September on a developmental deal which suggested that he'd be learning the craft of turning left in Trucks, Cup and Xfinity.

Trackhouse also signed up Zane Smith on a full time deal the following month which raised a few question marks about where SVG will slot in.

In the process of doing this, Trackhouse had their own dillema. You see, they've only got two full time cars with the seats filled by Daniel Suarez and Watermelon Man Ross Chadtain. Now they had to find seats for Zane Smith and SVG.

That little dillema is solved with Zane Smith on loan to Spire Motorsport and as for SVG?

Well, that was all announced today. SVG will be doing 7 Cup races and the full Xfinity Series on loan to Kaulig Racing.

"Kaulig Racing, but he's signed to Trackhouse?" you ask. It's a sensible move for SVG. Trackhouse co owner Justin Mark's has done a few races in the past with Kaulig as has Ross Chastain. Kaulig have shown the last few years that they are the Chevy team that gets the job done when the Childress and Jr Motorsport cars can't, and he will have a more than capable mentor and team mate in AJ Allmendinger.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/12/13/trackhouse-kaulig-set-up-svg-for-full-time-xfinity-schedule-seven-cup-races-in-2024/

[stevo qld]

For Shane van Gisbergen to be able to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in Daytona, he must contest an extra race beforehand.

In order to gain the necessary approval to take part in the second tier opener at the famous Florida oval, the superspeedway virgin must contest in the ARCA Menards Series.

The effective fourth division race will be held on February 17, the same day as the Xfinity Series opener, United Rentals 300.

It is unclear which team van Gisbergen will race for in the ARCA Menards Series, having been signed to race for Kaulig and Trackhouse Racing in the Xfinity and Cup Series respectively.

https://autoaction.com.au/2023/12/20/the-extra-step-van-gisbergen-must-take-before-daytona

Personally, I think NASCAR Daytona are over fond of their precious rules.

SVG is a multiple Australian Supercar Champion driving comparable cars.

He is already a Top tier NASCAR winner.

He has also raced in a lower class.

He has extensive experience in a lot of cars around the world, including the USA.

Frankly, to use an Aussie expression: "NASCAR officials must be up themselves.

And on top of that SVG is in the Top 20 drivers in the world as rated by Autosport.

How many NASCAR current drivers even get a sniff of the Top 50?

https://www.autosport.com/topic/top-50-drivers-of-2023/2571/

[Bloopy]

After first moving the Xfinity start time up 30 minutes from 5 to 4:30 p.m., that effort to beat the rain turned out to be in vain, and now the first Xfinity race of the 2024 season will not start on time. Rain has been falling steadily since roughly 3 p.m. It is unclear when, or if, the race will start Saturday. If it is postponed, it's probable the Xfinity race will occur Monday.

This morning's rescheduled qualifying session began about two hours late at 1:30 p.m., and Jesse Love Jr., the 19-year-old reigning ARCA Menards Series champion, won the pole.

Still, the National Weather Service's hourly forecast calls for more than a 90% chance of rain throughout the afternoon and evening, with the precipitation becoming heavy rain at night. Saturday morning's Cup practice, originally scheduled for 10:30 a.m., was canceled.

The chances of the Daytona 500 being run at the scheduled time on Sunday afternoon are also becoming more unlikely. There's a 90% chance of rain during the day, and showers are also expected between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The Giz's main race was moved to today but now delayed to Monday. Just send him out in the wet and he'd be laps ahead.

[mikeamerica84]

Yeah.  The 500 for the Cup cars was just rolled back to Monday, too.  Rain all weekend in that part of Florida.  This took no one by surprise.  You could see it happening earlier in the week.

Xfinity (+SVG) will run first followed by Cup (-SVG).  Xfinity starts at 11:00 p.m. EST here.

[Trevor]

Who?

[djr18fan]

I'm impressed with Kaulig Racings social media. Keeping fans informed. Humor. The sort of thing that develops & maintains a fan base. Their Kiwi driver is getting plenty of attention. Commentators know who he is.

[skaifeman]

Waters now getting a cup debut, at Sonoma on June 9, a week before the Hidden Valley round.
https://speedcafe.com/waters-nascar-cup-debut-confirmed/

Still no confirmation if Brown is doing the same.

SVG won't be in this one though, he's due to run at Charlotte on May 26 and then back to Chicago on July 7.

[CP]

Willy B is confirmed for Sonoma with Childress.

Meanwhile, Cams car is backed by the US Government promoting Build Submarines, and also promoting the AUKUS alliance.

You can't make this up.

[mikeamerica84]

Willy B is confirmed for Sonoma with Childress.

Meanwhile, Cams car is backed by the US Government promoting Build Submarines, and also promoting the AUKUS alliance.

You can't make this up.

RFK and Keselowski, a Ford camp, have had the Build Submarines sponsor on and off this year on that car.  It does make one chuckle, though, eh?

[mikeamerica84]

Two firsts:  SVG wins an Xfinity race at Portland and then kicks a rugby ball into the grandstand.

https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/02/watch-shane-van-gisbergen-kicks-rugby-ball-into-crowd-after-nascar-win/

[LG]

He drove well but we upside downers expect that from him on that type of course.

[djr18fan]

He made it hard for himself with some poor restarts, but impressive speed on worn tyres meant he could catch and pass cars with relative ease.

Odds on favourite now for the next xfinity race. It will be very interesting to see how Brown & Waters go in cup next week.

[skaifeman]

I tuned in for the second half of the race. You just knew he was going to do it if it remained green.
He's got to work out those restarts though!

The full track drift was akin to Hidden Valley. A great way to make new fans!

[skaifeman]

SVG does the door bump and run. No doubt it was a little payback to Austin Hill for what happened at COTA.
Question is, when is Hill going to get his payback?

Brown looked promising, shame he got undone twice by car dramas.
Waters less promising, but caught up in a pile-up, easy done.

Sonoma was enjoyable to watch.

[LG]

Hill has had his payback in the sense that he started it by knocking SVG out of the win at Circuit of the Americas.
He probably won't see it that way though as he's an all time douche bag.