SHANE van Gisbergen has officially secured his NASCAR future, agreeing to terms with Trackhouse Racing for next year.
Trackhouse is the team with which van Gisbergen’s first two Cup Series races have come, namely his victory on debut in Chicago before a solid run to 10th in Indianapolis.
His impending departure from Supercars was confirmed last month, with Triple Eight Race Engineering signing Will Brown from Erebus Motorsport to be Broc Feeney’s new teammate.
Now the next piece in the puzzle is sorted, with van Gisbergen’s 2024 program to include a mix of NASCAR’s three tiers (Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series) plus late model and other races.
“This announcement means so many things to me,” said the 34-year-old.
“I’m proud of what I have achieved here in Australia, but I’m excited by this new chapter in my career and the opportunities that it brings.
“I’m so thankful to everyone who has played a role in my career so far, especially Triple Eight Race Engineering, and looking forward to finishing our year with a few more highlights!
“It is time for a new challenge and this adventure into NASCAR will be the biggest challenge of my career and one I’m really looking forward to.
“I want to thank Justin Marks (Trackhouse founder and owner) and everyone at Trackhouse Racing who have taken a chance on me and given me this opportunity.
“I’m excited to get to America and getting the season started.”
While further details about van Gisbergen’s racing activities next year are still to be revealed, Marks said plans will be pieced together tactically.
“This is going to be a tremendous challenge for Shane but he is a tremendous driver as we have all seen,” said Marks.
“Next year will be about getting him acclimated to oval track racing, superspeedways, 1.5-mile tracks and everything he has never experienced in his career.
“It’s obviously going to be a learning process, but we think Shane will perform quite well.”
Trackhouse will continue to field Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez as full-timers in the Cup Series.
Whether SVG makes a cameo return to Supercars as an enduro co-driver remains to be seen, although both he and Triple Eight managing director Jamie Whincup have expressed a desire to do so.
Van Gisbergen’s partner Jess Dane has already confirmed she will retain her 30 percent stake in Triple Eight beyond relocating to the United States.
Van Gisbergen will contest this weekend’s Sandown 500 with Kiwi compatriot Richie Stanaway as his co-driver.
