Defending Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has become the first driver in 60 years to win in their NASCAR debut.

Van Gisbergen traded the Australian street circuits for downtown Chicago, chasing down Justin Haley and Chase Elliott in a memorable finish to the series’ first street race.

The 34-year-old’s heroics match Johnny Rutherford – a three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, who also raced in the 1977 Bathurst 1000 – when he won at Daytona in 1963 on NASCAR debut.

Van Gisbergen described it as a “dream come true”.

“What an experience, and the crowd out here. Like this was so cool and that’s what you dream of, hopefully I can come and do more,” the New Zealander said.

“When we had that bad strategy back to 18th, I started to worry a bit.

“The fans in Australia and New Zealand, the response this week and the coverage has been, I can’t explain it.

“The response and the support I’ve got from everyone and even over here, how welcoming everyone is, I can’t believe it.”

The race was scheduled for 100 laps but was shortened because of fading sunlight after the start was delayed for more 90 minutes due to historic rainfall that flooded the course.

Van Gisbergen had a chance to drive the No. 91 Chevrolet in Chicago as part of Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91.

Tweet from @shanevg97

The New Zealander won his first Supercars championship in 2016 and was near-unstoppable as he claimed the 2021 and 2022 titles.

Van Gisbergen’s memorable debut in NASCAR will only fuel speculation his days in Supercars might be limited.

His immediate future in the touring car scene seemed to have been put to rest in April when a “multiyear” contract extension was announced by Red Bull Ampol.

But in a later interview, van Gisbergen said he was looking forward to “at least one more year here, which is cool”.

He was asked to clarify whether the deal was only a one-year extension and he sheepishly confirmed that was correct.

-with PA