JAMES Small has called on a NASCAR team to bring Shane van Gisbergen to the United States.
Small knows a thing or two about graduating from Supercars to NASCAR, having gone on to forge a successful career in the latter.
That followed stints at Garry Rogers Motorsport, Paul Morris Motorsport, Kelly Racing and Ford Performance Racing; it was at the latter that he was race engineer for Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards’ 2013 Bathurst 1000 victory.
Small nowadays is crew chief for 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr.
Diving into a conversation where NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick heaped praise on Marcos Ambrose, who clinched a pair of Supercars championships before becoming a Cup Series race winner, Small threw van Gisbergen’s name into the ring.
“Now if a current owner had a pair, they’d be stupid not to sign up (van Gisbergen) and watch him come and do the same thing… or better,” wrote Small.
Agreed. Now if a current owner had a pair, they’d be stupid not to sign up @shanevg97 and watch him come and do the same thing… or better. https://t.co/neBtBWz6dT
— James Small (@james_small) September 9, 2022
Van Gisbergen’s compatriot and former rival Scott McLaughlin is now a regular in American motorsport, having won three IndyCar races this season and this week signed a new multi-year deal with Team Penske.
Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki has flagged a desire to investigate a NASCAR cameo next year.
Van Gisbergen and Kostecki are currently on track for Practice 2 at Pukekohe Park Raceway, which is hosting Round 10 of the Repco Supercars Championship.
