As he wraps up his first full season in NASCAR, Shane van Gisbergen faces a busy day with five more Cup Series races on his schedule.

Kaulig Racing will field the No. 16 car for van Gisbergen this Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, followed by Darlington Raceway (September 1), Atlanta Motor Speedway (September 8), Watkins Glen (September 15), Talladega Superspeedway (October 6), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 20) and Martinsville Speedway (November 3).

“Competing in Cup and Xfinity racing with Kaulig Racing will keep everyone on their toes, but I didn’t come to America to sit and watch racing,” van Gisbergen said. “I came to race.”

Van Gisbergen was originally scheduled to race in six Cup Series races this season; he has already competed in events at Circuit of the Americas, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Chicago Street Course. Watkins Glen and Las Vegas were the other two races on his original schedule.

“When I came to the States, I was told that Darlington was the toughest track on the circuit and I can’t argue with that, but I immediately fell in love with the place,” said van Gisbergen. “It’s just so much fun to drive there and I’m keen to drive a Cup car there. As for Atlanta, we finished third there in only my second start in the Xfinity Series, so that was kind of crazy. I have so much more experience now and just love coming to the track every week.”

The New Zealander is a contract driver with Trackhouse Racing and drives full-time for Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series. Kaulig Racing fields van Gisbergen in the Cup Series in its second car, which is used as an all-star car for various drivers.

In the Xfinity Series, van Gisbergen has three wins as the regular season brings fewer and fewer wins. The 35-year-old is expected to move to the Cup Series next season with Trackhouse Racing.

“This season has been very educational for me, but I have enjoyed every moment. It’s great fun to fight for the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and to get the chance to compete against the best of the best in the Cup Series,” said van Gisbergen. “For me, the road courses are a normal race, but the oval courses are a challenge that I hope to master soon. I’m looking forward to this second half of the season.”