NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race and winner Shane van Gisbergen have been honoured at the NASCAR Hall of Fame with the Kiwi in attendance to unveil a special exhibit commemorating the series’ first-ever street race.
Van Gisbergen’s race suit and shoes are a part of the display, which also includes a signed replica helmet, a Chicago Cubs NASCAR Night game baseball and bobblehead, a Fender telecaster electric guitar signed by artists who performed at the concert, and more.
The Kiwi, who became the first debutant to win in the series since Johnny Rutherford in 1963, joined Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese and NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley in Charlotte. North Carolina, to unveil the exhibit.
“It’s a privilege, that’s for sure,” van Gisbergen said in an interview with Chris Weaver at the ceremony. “It’s pretty cool to have our own little momento for it, and it’s cool to be in a place like this.
“I came in here to look through all the Hall of Fame before Chicago, so to now have something in here is pretty epic.
“You obviously dream of winning a race, but we were not sure how we were going to go. It’s such a different world to what I’m used to and where I’ve come so to have a great race and to win the race was pretty unexpected, but a pretty awesome moment.”
Giese adds, “This race is about taking our sport to a whole new level, and Shane is a part of that. For us, the competition on the track is a priority. You talk about the number of cars on the track he had to pass in order to get the win shows the track itself was competitive.
“It’s such a great story; thinking about what we were doing in Downtown Chicago, having a street race, first of its kind and having a first-time winner in his first start, it’s pretty special.”
Kelley also recognised the significance of the event and van Gisbergen’s win and believes more street races will be on the cards in the future.
“There are generational events, and this one was generational and transformational,” he said. “It fits right in with our tradition of celebrating NASCAR’s heritage and evolving history.
“This is a very unique story. It shows me the proof of the concept, and I believe wholeheartedly that we will be racing in other Downtown cities. I do not know where or when, but I’ll be shocked if that doesn’t happen in my lifetime. I’m an old guy, so I think it’s going to happen.”
Van Gisbergen will next be in action in the Xfinity Series on Sunday morning, with action from Richmond Raceway beginning at 6.30 am NZ time.
