After just one season of learning to drive on the left side of the car, how to go in circles, and master the giant learning curve that is American racing; New Zealand native Shane van Gisbergen will be a part of the NASCAR Cup Series full time in 2025.
Van Gisbergen will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing as the team expands to a three car team.
The three time Australian Repco Supercars Championship will drive the number 88 car next season. The 88 car was last on the track as a part of the Hendricks Motorsports team with Dale Earnhardt Jr behind the wheel.
Justin Marks spoke with Junior, Kelly Earnhardt Miller, and Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports about using the 88 saying, “it’s important for us to have the endorsement (Had) a great, great exchange with Dale Jr. saying, like, ‘Look, it’s not my number. I mean, I added to the legacy of it. It was important to me personally.’ But he was proud to see it in good hands, and that’s just something that’s super, super important to me and to this company.”
Trackhouse Racing co-owner Justin Marks spoke on the addition saying, “this is obviously a hug moment. Really, really thrilled and excited that Shane put the trust in us and made a huge commitment in leaving a very successful career in Australia and New Zealand and moved to a new country and sort of (started) over and put his faith and his trust in us. That means a lot to us. And he’s put in a tremendous amount of work. Great human being, very, very talented race car driver, and somebody with an incredibly, incredibly bright future. So we’re very excited to have them here.”
A full time driver in the Xfinity Series this season, Van Gisbergen has won three races – all road courses – and has earned himself a spot in the playoffs.
Shane van Gisbergen spoke on his coming to America to race saying, “it’s been a pretty awesome 18 months. Yeah, it’s been a huge life change, as Justin said, and everything he said was going to happen has happened. I never thought it would happen this quick and I’m very glad we’ve done the learning year this year in Xfinity. Kaulig Racing has been great to work with, and then also a lot more races to finish the year now. Been a huge learning experience but just excited to get full-time in the Cup Series next year.”
Trackhouse also announced that they have purchased a charter for van Gisbergen which means he will be eligible to start every race next season.