What began as a one-off PROJECT91 race in 2023 and continued as a successful Xfinity Series campaign in 2024 will turn into a fulltime NASCAR Cup Series season in 2025 for New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen.
Trackhouse Racing announced today that it has acquired a third charter for the three-time Supercars champion who will join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez in the team’s 2025 Cup Series lineup.
This is a big day in so many ways for Trackhouse Racing, Shane, Chevrolet and race fans around the world.This is an important step for our organization and it’s a credit to the men and women at Trackhouse Racing whose hard work and success the last few years has led to us expanding to three Cup teams in 2025. It’s also a big step up for Shane who took a chance on Trackhouse Racing, moved here from New Zealand and now joins the most competitive stock car racing series in the world. Everyone will get to watch one of the world’s racing superstars compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.” - Justin Marks
van Gisbergen said his mission since leaving the Supercars Series has been to come to America and earn a place in the Cup Series. He has raced full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2024, winning at Portland International Raceway, Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and the Chicago Street Race. He’s also raced in four Cup Series races in 2024 with plans to run in seven more races.
"This is what I have planned for and I am ready. I know there is a tough learning curve ahead, but the best way to learn is to go out and do it. I feel I have made progress running the Xfinity Series this year with Kaulig Racing and I can't thank everyone there enough. I look forward to the Cup Series. Those drivers and teams are the best in the world and it will be an honor to be part of their races.” - Shane van Gisbergen
Van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet will carry the number 88 in 2025. That car number has been driven to victory lane 76 times in NASCAR history by legends including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Donnie Allison, Ricky Rudd, Rusty Wallace, Buddy Baker and others.