NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen took time off from his preparations for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday to hang out with Coastal Carolina athletes and coaches on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
The 36-year-old New Zealand native had fun, too.
Van Gisbergen, accompanied by Darlington Raceway President Josh Harris, made a stop at Coastal’s new indoor practice facility where he showed Chanticleer special teams members how to kick a rugby ball. Then, he ventured to Broadway Grand Prix to race go-karts with Coastal coaches, including men’s basketball coach Justin Gray and baseball coach Kevin Schnall.
And he did feel the August heat. It’s the same heat he’ll face at Darlington for the Southern 500 on Aug. 31.
“Anything over 20 degrees sucks,” van Gisbergen said. “That’s Celsius degrees. It’s hot for me. But we have good cool suits, helmets and stuff like that. We just try to prepare as much as we can.”
Van Gisbergen has taken NASCAR by storm, establishing himself as the circuit’s dominant road course driver. He has five wins – all on road courses – in 38 races. Van Gisbergen became the first driver in the modern era of NASCAR to win his Cup Series debut race when he won the Grant Park 220 in Chicago in 2023.
Shane Van Gisbergen listens to a question at the Coastal Carolina indoor football facility.
By Mike Duprez
info@myhorrynews.com
The three-time Australia Supercars Champion qualified for the upcoming NASCAR playoffs by winning four NASCAR cup race, all on road courses, including at Watkins Glen on Aug. 10.
In his most recent race, at Richmond on Aug. 16, van Gisbergen posted a 14th place finish, giving hope that he might be nearing his first oval victory. He also had a top-20 finish in Darlington in April.
Taking the checkered flag might be a stretch, van Gisbergen admits.
“It’s probably a long way from winning,” he said. “But we’ll have a crack at it. It means everything. That’s why we race. We prepare as best we can every week. But we’re realistic, too. I’ve still got a long way to go. I’m pretty new at this.”