NASCAR News: van Gisbergen’s Watkins Glen win special with Dad in attendance

New Zealand NASCAR Road Racing standout Shane van Gisbergen’s win at Watkins Glen Sunday, his 4th in a row on a road course, was extra special for him.

He thoroughly schooled all the NASCAR Cup drivers in Mexico, Chicago, and Sonoma this season as well, adding to a successful year with Trackhouse Racing.

During the past year, Van Ginsbergen’s father, Robert (shown above with Shane during his Supercar years), has not been at the races to celebrate with his son, battling some heartbreaking personal issues.

In the Watkins Glen post-race press conference, van Gisbergen explained his father’s heartbreak this year.

Robert suffered the loss of Shane’s mother, Karen Wallace, after she fell ill. Additionally, Robert’s sister and mother passed away during this period.

Luckily, Shane had his father present for his most recent win.

“It’s been pretty difficult,” the NASCAR driver said after his victory on Sunday.

“He lost his wife, my mother, and then his sister, and then his mum a month or so ago.

“It’s been a really rough run for Dad. It’s hard to support him when I’m on the other side of the world. That’s probably why I’m the most homesick.

“Then my sister has moved away as well, so he’s kind of by himself all of a sudden.

“I try and talk to him every day. To have him here – like he was almost in tears, too – it’s really special to share that because we’re a long way from home.”

Robert is expected to join Shane for the remaining regular season stretch at Richmond and Daytona before the playoffs begin.

With his father at his side, van Gisbergen hopes for more success with his support system around him.

“It’s obviously something to dream about winning on an oval, and superspeedways. I’ve had some pretty good moments there,” van Gisbergen added.

“Last year, I think Talladega… Kaulig was a smaller team, Dad was on the front row of the pit box, helping with the strategy, or talking with Travis Mack on the strategy. You know, he loves it.

“I’d love to have a good result with him the next couple weeks.

“He’s driving the bus for me with his friend Jason to those races. I’ll probably drive to Daytona with them, and it’ll be a good time like we used to do.”