NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) rookie Shane van Gisbergen locked himself in to the Round of 16 of the NASCAR Playoffs with four road-course wins so far this season, but ovals have been a struggle. With his full focus currently on making it to the Round of 12 with a strong showing at this Saturday’s cutoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway, van Gisbergen will soon shift his efforts to prepare for tackling New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s (NHMS) flat 1.058-mile oval.
“Tuesday or Monday, we debrief the weekend before, and then Tuesday start preparing for what we got coming up that weekend,” said van Gisbergen. “This week's been pretty full on trying to understand Bristol. It's a tough track for me, and just need to qualify better, and yeah, it's gonna be a tough one to try and advance. If we get it right, maybe we can, so that's kind of been the focus, qualify well, and try and get some stage points, and get up front and hopefully we get through the next round.”
In 2024, van Gisbergen made his NHMS debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, where he started 28th and finished 18th. Next Sunday, Sept. 21, he’ll make his NCS debut on “The Magic Mile” for the Mobil 1 301.
“[A] new experience is always cool,” said van Gisbergen. “I always like going to new places and new tracks for the first time. I raced there last year in Xfinity, but never driven a Cup car there, so yeah, it'd be fun to do something different again and try it out and try and be good there.”
If van Gisbergen can find the magic to land him in victory lane on Sept. 21, it will be a moment full of firsts – first NHMS Cup start, first oval win and first time touching a lobster – to create an unforgettable moment.
“I've never touched a lobster or seen one up close, so I don't really know what I'd think.”
On-track action kicks off Friday, Sept. 19 with practice and qualifying sessions for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) plus SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels at The Flat Track. The action continues on Doubleheader Saturday with the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race, the Team EJP 175 NCTS Playoffs race and NCS practice and qualifying. The on-track action culminates Sunday with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” to kick off the Round of 12 with the Mobil 1 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including “The Magic Mile” Happy Hour Show, Trackside Live, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Draw the Line and Being Petty: The Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Experience, Family Movie Night featuring “Captain America: Brave New World,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.
For a full NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/Mobil-1-301/Schedule/.
Tickets:
For tickets and camping for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend, featuring the Mobil 1 301 NCS and Team EJP 175 NCTS Playoffs races, Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race and SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels, fans should visit NHMS.com or call 833-4LOUDON. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 on Sunday, free on Doubleheader Saturday and start at $10 on Friday.
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