NASCAR holds the second of 10 Playoff races this Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois. The race marks the second of three first-round races. Trackhouse Racing drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Ross Chastain are above the relegation zone, but both need good finishes in the next two races to advance to the second round.
“We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing, but it’s so hard in a NASCAR race,” commented van Gisbergen. “I feel like every race you have a storyline of how the day goes. It’s never free flowing really, so we just have to eliminate or minimize what we do wrong, and just try to get it right every week, and that comes with preparation.”
NASCAR will eliminate four of those drivers from the playoffs every three races until the final four drivers will battle for the championship in a winner-take-all race at Phoenix (Avondale, Ariz.) Raceway on Nov. 2.
Van Gisbergen will make his first NASCAR Cup Series career start at the World Wide Technology Raceway. He enters this weekend’s race 12th and final position in the Playoff Standings, three points above the cutline.
Last weekend at Darlington he struggled with handling issues all race but fought hard to stay on the lead lap. The late-race strategy was ruined by an untimely caution, dropping him off the lead lap, and left him with a 32nd-place finish.
“I was pretty down about our result on Sunday night, but we have two more weeks to have good results, try to do better myself and get our car better, which we are capable of,” said SVG. “I’ve never been to this track, so preparation and practice will be key to a good result on Sunday.
“The biggest strength is my team. I’ve got awesome people in my corner, and I know they’ll do anything for us to succeed. Seeing the work and preparation in the team has been awesome. The vibe and how knuckled down everyone is so special and it’s really cool to be a part of that. The weakness is me. It’s my inexperience and I’ve got those people helping me to get better.”
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