V8 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen makes history by winning his first ever NASCAR race

Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has taken his driving dominance to the US and secured a stunning NASCAR victory in his first ever start.

The two-time Bathurst 1000 champion just missed starting in pole position in Chicago but, after starting in third on the grid, stormed his way to victory on the street circuit in a brilliant audition for a full-time switch.

It’s the first time in NASCAR’s modern era that a driver has won in their first Cup Series start, creating a 60-year-first.

Having out-qualified his Trackhouse stablemates Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain, the Kiwi champion slipped back to 18th in the race before mounting an astonishing charge through the field.

He seized the race lead from Justin Haley with five laps to go and held on to take the chequered flag in an overtime finish in the 75-lap race, which had been shortened from 100 laps after a one-hour delay due to heavy rain.

The 34-year-old Kiwi champion slipped back to 18th in the race before mounting an astonishing charge through the field

One of the race commentators said: ‘It is amazing what this driver has done … it’s a long time since a road course ringer has gone to victory lane.’

Van Gisbergen celebrated the memorable win with a burnout on the streets of Chicago before he was swamped by media and fans.

When asked if he thought it was possible to win on debut, he answered: ‘Of course not, but you always dream of it … what an experience, and the crowd out here! This was so cool and it’s what you dream of. Hopefully I can come and do more.’

‘I’m doing one more year in Aus then I’d love to come over here.’

Van Gisbergen’s future in the V8 Supercars is clouded after he declared that ‘Supercars isn’t that fun at the moment’ after his arrival in the US.

The three-time Supercars champion signed a new multi-year contract with Triple Eight earlier this year but has a clause in his contract that means he is free to leave at the end of 2024.

After van Gisbergen missed pole by just 0.15s, NASCAR Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin said the Kiwi was ‘lightning fast’.

‘The biggest thing I noticed is the guy is lightning fast,’ Hamlin said of van Gisbergen after qualifying.

Van Gisbergen celebrated with some burnouts after becoming the first driver in 60 years to win on his NASCAR debut

The humble Kiwi celebrated the memorable win with a burnout on the streets of Chicago before he was swamped by media and fans

‘All of the corners I feel super uncomfortable using that extra three inches against the wall.

‘So, where the track is the narrowest and where those guys kind of get into the wall is where he is extremely fast.’

Celebrations for van Gisbergen will be short-lived with an immediate return to Australia this week for the NTI Townsville 500.