The Stage is set for Shane van Gisbergen’s Daytona 500 debut

Shane van Gisbergen’s Daytona 500 debut has been a dramatic affair so far, even before the green flag waves for the iconic 200 lap race. For the 35-year-old Kiwi will start at the back of the field for today’s race. That’s because of a last-lap incident in Duel 2 that necessitated a switch to the back-up car.

The Daytona 500, one of the most intense races of the year, presented a monumental challenge for van Gisbergen. It was also his first NASCAR Cup Series race as a full-time driver.

The weekend’s format added another layer of complexity. Two rounds of single-car qualifying determined the front row, with the remaining positions decided in a pair of 60-lap Duel races.

Van Gisbergen’s qualifying run yielded a 49.789-second lap, placing him 30th overall, a respectable second among his Trackhouse Racing teammates, only 0.04 seconds behind their top performer, Daniel Suárez.

This 30th-place finish slotted him into Duel 2, where he started 15th. Van Gisbergen quickly impressed, battling his way to the fringes of the top ten. By the second caution period, on lap 53, he was running seventh, the leading Chevrolet entry.

Then came the heartbreaking turn of events. As the field hurtled towards the finish line, Christopher Bell attempted a pass around the outside of Van Gisbergen. The cars had an overlap, contact was made, and van Gisbergen’s #88 was spun, triggering a multi-car pile-up that involved much of the pack.

Although classified 14th – the caution flag brought out midway through the resulting chaos solidified the positions – the damage meant a switch to the back-up car, relegating him to the very back of the grid for the Daytona 500.

The 67th running of the Daytona 500 is scheduled to begin an hour earlier than first thought, with impending weather forcing the change, with it set to kick off at 7:30am NZT. For those eager to watch Van Gisbergen’s debut, the race will be shown live and free on ThreeNow.