Shane Van Gisbergen Predicted To Sweep NASCAR’s Chicago Weekend

Shane Van Gisbergen in Chicago in 2023
Credit: NASCAR via Getty Images

He’s back.

Shane Van Gisbergen will be competing in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Loop 110 and Cup Series Grant Park 165 this weekend on the Chicago Street Course, where he won the Cup Series race last year in is first outing with the series.

The three-time Australian Supercars champion became an instant NASCAR star and the win helped earn him a contract with Trackhouse Racing and a full season Xfinity Series ride with Kaulig Racing this year, along with select Cup Series and Truck Series entries.

According to oddsmakers, Van Gisebergen is expected to pick up two wins in the Windy City this weekend.

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BetMGM has him at +175 to win The Loop 100 ahead of Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson (+350) and road course aces Ty Gibbs (+525) and AJ Allmendinger (+725). Larson and Gibbs are making guest appearances in the Xfinity Series, along with Cup Series regulars Joey Logano, John Hunter Nemecheck, and Daniel Suarez.

Last year’s race winner and defending Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer is listed in eighth at +2000 to win.

The top of the charts are the same for the Grant Park 165, where Van Gisbergen is +550 to win and Larson +625, but they are followed by Christopher Bell (+625), Tyler Reddick (+625) and Chase Elliot (+850).

Van Gisbergen said that despite the difference in the way the cars drive, he thinks competing in the Xfinity Series race will offer an advantage for the Cup Series race, in part because the track will be very different for Cup Series qualifying early on Saturday than for the race on Sunday after the Xfinity Series race lays down rubber.

“Getting to experience that will be a huge head start for Sunday, which is why so many Cup guys are probably in that Saturday race.” Van Gisbergen said.

The Loop 110 is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and the Grant Park 165 for 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday.