Shane van Gisbergen claims he was a ‘big Tony Stewart fan’ as a teenager

Shane van Gisbergen started watching NASCAR because of Marcus Ambrose.

Shane van Gisbergen claims he was a ‘big Tony Stewart fan’ as a teenager

Shane van Gisbergen and Tony Stewart (Via IMAGO)

Three times Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen took the NASCAR world by storm in 2023 after winning the Chicago Street Race on his debut. He drove the Project 91 Chevy of Trackhouse Racing and made history. SVG was given couple more opportunities to showcase his talent before Trackhouse signed him on a development driver deal.

The racer moved to USA from his country New Zealand in the off-season and is currently racing the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing full-time to learn the art of oval racing. Shane van Gisbergen recently appeared in the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour Podcast, hosted by retired Cup champion Kevin Harvick and recalled his teenage years as a NASCAR fan. There he reveled. that he was a big Tony Stewart fan.

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I did a little bit, when Marcos [Ambrose] first came over. I’ve always went for Tony Stewart though. I was a big Tony Stewart fan, so working with [Stewart’s former crew chief] Darian Grubb last year, that was a pretty cool moment for me. He had some cool stories.
Gisbergen said via Harvick’s podcast.

SVG grew up as a Stewart fan despite the fact that he got into the sport because of Marcos Ambrose, an ex-Australin NASCAR racer who has won two races in the sport. It was also a wholesome moment for Harvick, considering he is close friends with Stewart and has raced for the three times Cup champions’ team SHR, where he won the Cup title in 2014.

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Marcus Ambrose had a similar career trajectory as Shane van Gisbergen

Amborse is one of the most decorated racers of his generation, who won the Supercars title twice. After dominating the Australian racing scene, he ventured into NASCAR to face new challenges and expand his legacy.

Marcus Ambrose
Marcus Ambrose (Via IMAGO)

From 2006 to 2014, he raced in over 300 races in all three NASCAR national series’s. His debut came in the Truck Series in 2006 and had a solid season. He started over 77 races in 7 years in the second tier from 2007 and has won four events. Ambrose made his Cup debut in 2007 and in seven years had over 200 starts and two race wins.

Shane van Gisbergen has huge success story to follow in the Australian and if he works hard enough can write one better. He would have the best cars at Trackhosue and Kaulig, it’s up to him to speed up his learning curve and prove his worth to full fill his dream of securing a full-time Cup seat in 2025.

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