Since winning the inaugural street course race at Chicago, the NASCAR world has been abuzz about New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen. The three time Australian asuoercars champion expressed an interest in coming to the United States and racing NASCAR from victory lane in Chicago.
Van Gisbergen has run the road course at Indianapolis and a Truck Series race since that debut and while he has not won either of the he, van Gisbergen told reporters that he had a vlast just running in the race.
Thanks to Justin Marks and Trackhouse Racing, Shane van Gisbergen will get to do a lot more racing next season after signing a contract with Trackhouse.
The deal does not tie van Gisbergen to a single series but will introduce him to all three NASCAR racing series plus a variety of other racing formats in the 2024 season.
Van Gisbergen spoke on his new endeavour via a team release saying, “this announcement means so many things to me. I’m proud of what I have achieved here in Australia, but I’m excited by this new chapter in my career and the opportunities that it brings.”
An Gisbergen was introduced to the world of NASCAR racing via Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program which is designed to bring stars from other racing sereies to NASCAR. Earlier this uear Formula 1 star Kimi Raikkonen drove the 91 car.
Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks commented on his plans for van Gisbergen next year saying, “this is going to be a tremendous challenge for Shane but he is a tremendous driver as we have all seen. Next year will be about getting him acclimated to oval-track racing, superspeedways, 1.5-mile tracks and everything he has never experienced in his career. It’s obviously going to be a learning process, but we think Shane will perform quite well.”
feature photo credit: Shane van Gisbergen 2020 Supercars launch.jpg