Shane van Gisbergen Moves to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025

Shane van Gisbergen made a huge splash last summer when he won in his first-ever NASCAR start. What started as a one-off race for PROJECT91 and Trackhouse Racing was followed by a successful rookie campaign in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The New Zealand driver is locked into the Xfinity Series playoffs with three road course wins and a best finish of third on an oval.

With his continued improvement in the Xfinity Series and strong showings in his two Cup series races this year, Trackhouse Racing has decided to add him as the third driver in 2025. Trackhouse acquired a third charter to make room for the Super Cars phenom.

In Trackhouse's release, founder and owner Justin Marks spoke on what this expansion means for the young team as they enter their fourth NASCAR season.

"This is a big day in so many ways for Trackhouse Racing, Shane, Chevrolet, and race fans around the world," Justin Marks said. "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."

While this move was expected to be around the NASCAR garage, Trackhouse kept one portion of it well under wraps. The third car will be utilizing the No. 88.

The No. 88 was most recently run in the Cup Series by Dale Earnhardt Jr. but has also housed the likes of Darrell Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Donnie Allison, and others.

Stephen Doran will serve as crew chief for the No. 88, in 2024, he worked his first year in Cup as Zane Smith's crew chief on the NO. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.

Yesterday, Trackhouse and Smith announced they mutually agreed to a separation at the end of the 2024 season. This move was needed to free the spot up for van Gisbergen.

At 35 years old van Gisbergen has brought a fierce sense of competition with him in his move to stock car racing, and he's ready for this next step.

"This is what I have planned for, and I am ready," van Gisbergen said. "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."

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