SVG Snags Xfinity Series Pole In The Windy City

Shane van Gisbergen in action on the streets of Chicago. (NASCAR photo)

CHICAGO – Shane van Gisbergen picked up right where he left off one year ago during Saturday morning’s NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying session at the Chicago Street Course.

The New Zealander, who won at Chicago in his NASCAR Cup Series debut last season, debuted as a full-time Xfinity Series driver in the Windy City with a pole-winning lap around the 2.2-mile temporary street circuit.

Van Gisbergen turned in a final-round time of one minute, 29.448 seconds (88.543 mph) in the No. 97 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro for his second career pole in just 18 Xfinity Series starts.

The three-time Australian Supercars champion-turned NASCAR regular is seeking his third Xfinity Series win in his rookie campaign. He won at Portland (Ore.) Int’l Raceway and Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway earlier on.

“As happy as we are, it looks like Kyle’s very quick as well, so that’s going to be a fun challenge,” said van Gisbergen. “What an awesome start, though. Kaulig Racing has given us some rockets. Our WeatherTech Chevy is pretty quick, and I’ve kept it straight so far, so we just have to keep doing that in the race.

“These street circuits are tough, though. Every lap the track gets better and better as more rubber gets laid down,” he added. “I’m looking forward to it though. There’s a lot of fast guys, but hopefully, we can have a clean race out front.”

Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion, returned to the seat of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro for Hendrick Motorsports Saturday and will join van Gisbergen on the front row for the Loop 110.

Larson’s best lap was one minute, 29.461 seconds (88.530 mph), just .013 seconds off the top time in qualifying.

The duo of van Gisbergen and Larson continued their back-and-forth battle in Cup Series practice later on, taking the top two spots on that speed chart with Larson edging out the Kiwi.

Connor Mosack’s return to the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports got off to a solid start in qualifying, placing him third on the grid at one minute, 29.980 seconds (88.020 mph) in the No. 88 Porter Pipe & Supply Chevrolet Camaro.

It’s his first Xfinity Series appearance since last season’s finale at Arizona’s Phoenix Raceway.

Ty Gibbs was the fastest Toyota driver in fourth, trailed by his longtime rival Sam Mayer, who ended qualifying as the best of the full-time JR Motorsports entries.

John Hunter Nemechek, who qualified sixth but will drop to the rear after an engine issue late in qualifying, Parker Kligerman, rookie Jesse Love, Chandler Smith, and defending series champion Cole Custer closed the top 10.

Fastest among the drivers who failed to advance out of the opening round was multi-time road course winner A.J. Allmendinger, who will roll off 11th for Kaulig Racing.

Other notables deeper in the field include Austin Hill (13th), two-time Cup Series champion Joey Logano (15th), Anthony Alfredo (18th), Riley Herbst (20th), Daniel Suarez (31st), and Brandon Jones (32nd).

A heavy practice crash at turn four for Justin Allgaier and a mechanical failure for Sheldon Creed prevented both drivers from making time trial attempts. They’ll start 36th and 37th, respectively.

Broadcast coverage of the Loop 110 is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET, live on NBC, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

The television broadcast will utilize radio-style commentary, with MRN’s Mike Bagley and Dillon Welch joining the regular lineup of Rick Allen, Steve Letarte, and Jeff Burton.