Payne was a candidate to join the Chevrolet team Richard Childress Racing at Sonoma until it was blocked by his Supercars team Grove Racing.
Grove’s relationship with Ford was cited as a stumbling block amid a tense tug-of-war with General Motors over Payne’s services.
Payne is contracted to Grove through 2027, meaning a NASCAR opportunity would have to come via Ford next year or wait until 2028 to look elsewhere once a seemingly inevitable Team 18 move happens.
“I’d love to see him do it,” said van Gisbergen of Payne in NASCAR.
“I think he’s a massive talent.
“He was only just starting when I left, but from what I saw, he was really good.
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“It sounds like he wants to come do it, so hopefully he can have a go.”
While Payne wasn’t able to make a NASCAR Cup Series start happen, fellow Supercars star Broc Feeney was on site at Sonoma.
The Triple Eight driver has long harboured NASCAR ambitions, though opportunities have not come to fruition for lack of funding or opportunities.
Feeney tried to make a start last year with Chevrolet team Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (then NASCAR Xfinity Series).
Instead, his Triple Eight teammate Will Brown got the nod.
Triple Eight’s move to Ford has also limited opportunities for Feeney and Brown.
There are no full-time teams in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaigning the blue oval.
In any case, van Gisbergen said he is keen to see more Supercars drivers give it a go and met with Feeney at Sonoma.
“I mean, I hope,” said van Gisbergen when asked whether more Supercars drivers could make the stock car racing switch.
“I think it’s cool that Broc Feeney’s here this weekend. It was cool to catch up with him for dinner last night, and I know he’d love to do a race and a couple of others, too.
“Yeah, I certainly welcome it. I think it’s appealing to teams, in some ways.
“You’re going to have strong road course guys, but you’ve got to commit to a big building phase on the ovals, as we’ve seen.
“I’d love to see more come and try and do it.”
Van Gisbergen will start the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma from sixth.
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