Before Saturday night's race at Daytona, Trackhouse Racing announced that New Zealand native and former V8 Supercars Champion Shane Van Gisbergen will drive for the team in the Nascar Cup Series full-time in 2025. The team has purchased a charter from Stewart-Hass Racing, which is going to one team and being rebranded as Hass Factory Team to add a third team via the charter system. Additionally, Van Gisbergen will drive the number 88 Chevrolet for Trackhouse. The team contacted Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kelly Earnhardt Miller, and Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon for permission to use the 88 number.
“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.”
SVG going to the Cup Series full-time is excellent news for the sport of NASCAR. I think seeing how he does on the ovals will be interesting. SVG is, of course, lauded for his skill on street and road courses, winning in his first-ever start in the Cup Series last year on the Streets of Chicago, but he doesn't have enough of a track record yet on ovals at NASCAR's top level. Before his engine quit on him at Daytona, he finished 28th in the shortened Coke 600 and then 31st at Talladega.
SVG has been running a limited schedule in the Cup Series while racing full-time in the Xfinity Series this year. His Cup schedule has been expanded to help prepare for his first full-time season in the Cup Series, as he will run six of the last eleven races.
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