NASCAR is America's preeminent stock-car racing competition, but when the organization took to the streets of one of the country's most important cities, it was a New Zealander who ended up in victory lane.
Shane van Gisbergen made history in the Windy City on Sunday (Monday in Auckland); not did he win the first NASCAR-sanctioned street race, he also became the first driver in 60 years to win his first Cup Series start. (Johnny Rutherford won a Daytona 500 qualifying race in 1963.)
He is also the second driver from the New Zealand-Australia region to win in NASCAR's top flight. Marcos Ambrose won twice in 227 starts from 2008-14. And he became just the sixth driver born outside the U.S. to win in the Cup Series, joining Ambrose, Mario Andretti, Earl Ross, Juan Pablo Montoya and Daniel Suarez.
It was a dream day for Trackhouse Racing and its No. 91 team. van Gisbergen etched his name into NASCAR history and proved once again that the stock car scene down under is teeming with talent.
MORE: Shane van Gisbergen makes history with Chicago street race win
With that, here's what you need to know about NASCAR's latest big thing:
Who is Shane van Gisbergen?
van Gisbergen isn't a household name to American fans, but his history driving race cars precedes itself; the New Zealand native has captured three titles in Australia's Supercars Championship.
The 34-year-old has long been touted as one of the finest talents to come out of his home country. He has been racing since he was a tot and been a part of the professional motorsports scene since the mid-2000s. He first impressed in open-wheel vehicles before moving to stock cars.
With a thousand-lantern smile and a low-key disposition, van Gisbergen doesn't look like the most intimidating racer. He stays about his business and tries to keep things clean as he makes his way around the track.
But don't mistake that for weakness. As he proved in Chicago, van Gisbergen is more than willing to take risks and make daring passes.
Where is Shane van Gisbergen from?
van Gisbergen is a Kiwi, hailing from Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city. With his victory, Van Gisbergen became the first New Zealand-born driver to hoist a trophy in NASCAR's top division.
Where does Shane van Gisbergen race?
van Gisbergen races in Australia and has found gobs of success there in the Supercars Championship. A three-time champion who last wore the crown after the 2022 campaign, van Gisbergen is one of the greatest champions in the competition's history. His demolition of a NASCAR field made that even more apparent.
New Zealand roots. Australian sporting icon. Who would've thought the man from Auckland would make it like this?
Is Shane van Gisbergen joining NASCAR?
van Gisbergen will spend at least one more season in Australia, he told the NBC broadcast after his victory. After that? Van Gisbergen seems very open to the idea of returning to the Cup Series for a full slate of events in 2024.
"I'd love to come over here," van Gisbergen told NBC's Marty Snider.
After his showing on Sunday, you'd have to imagine that teams would be willing to make him an offer.