Shane Van Gisbergen hired by Trackhouse and Pitbull for NASCAR Cup car
Daytona Motor Mouths, August 20: Coke Zero Sugar 400 Preview
The guys talk about rain delays in Michigan, Tyler Reddick, Kyle Busch, Chris Buescher and the upcoming weekend at Daytona International Speedway.
DAYTONA BEACH – Another piece of the 2025 racing puzzle fell into place Saturday when Trackhouse Racing confirmed rumors.
The team, co-owned by Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull, will add a third entry to the Cup Series next year, putting Shane Van Gisbergen in the seat. The team’s roof and sides will be adorned with a historic NASCAR number – 88.
“It’s a big moment for us to enter as a one-car team in 2021, win seven races over the next 2.5 years and continue this incredible journey,” said Marks. “We’re very excited.”
Trackhouse currently fields Cup Series Chevrolets for Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez. The team brought Van Gisbergen to the U.S. last summer to compete in the inaugural Chicago Street Race, and he became the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford did so 60 years earlier.
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The New Zealand native and Australian SuperCars champion expressed a desire to change continents and racing disciplines, which led to his full-time Xfinity Series schedule and part-time Cup schedule this year. He leads the Xfinity Series with three wins – all at race tracks in Portland, Sonoma and Chicago.
“It’s been a really great 18 months. I never thought it would go so quickly,” said Van Gisbergen. “It certainly won’t be easy, but we’ll keep going. I can’t wait.”
“It’s really cool to be part of this team.”
The three drivers on this team come from three different countries – Suarez is from Mexico and Chastain is from Florida.
Marks confirmed that the team has purchased a third-team NASCAR charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart-Haas will close at the end of the season. The purchase price was not disclosed.
As for the number 88, which is obviously associated with Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip and other past NASCAR winners, the rights to that number actually belonged to JR Motorsports. That team is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelly Earnhardt Miller, who gave Trackhouse the green light to bring that number back to the track.
