Shane Van Gisbergen & Dale Jr.’s Prodigy Succeed NASCAR Legends’ Legacy With Rolex 24 Bombshell

As the calendar flips to 2025, one of motorsport’s most prestigious events has already made waves. With an announcement that blends NASCAR talent with endurance racing tradition, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is Trackhouse Racing’s next step after making strides in NASCAR and MotoGP. With TF Sport, they’re bringing a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3R to the Grand Touring Daytona Pro (GTD PRO) class. It sent ripples through the motorsports world, promising an unforgettable battle at the legendary 24-hour race.

Trackhouse Racing has taken bold steps since it started, and TF Sport is yet another one. IndyCar’s Scott McLaughlin and renowned sports car racer Ben Keating will share the wheel with NASCAR stars Shane van Gisbergen and 2025 JR Motorsports driver Connor Zilisch at one of the most iconic races in motorsport. It’s a fresh chapter that pays homage to the giants who came before them, drivers who straddled multiple disciplines.

Trackhouse Racing’s bold move into endurance racing

Since entering the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, Trackhouse Racing has been on an upward trajectory. It’s won with drivers like Ross Chastain, Daniel Suarez, and Shane Van Gisbergen. Justin Marks, the owner and founder of Trackhouse, wanted to make his team more than just NASCAR. This is a global brand, and with their upcoming endurance racing venture, that vision is expanding. “We wanted to make sure we could enter with a top-notch partner in Chevrolet and TF Sport, as well as a driver lineup that could compete for the victory,” said Marks.

This announcement also nods to Trackhouse’s predecessor drivers, many of whom made significant contributions to endurance racing. NASCAR has long had ties to the Rolex 24 with legends like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart competing. This quartet of competitors was carefully selected by Marks so they could step into this legacy.

Shane Van Gisbergen whose Australian Supercars championship pedigree and debut NASCAR Cup Series win in 2023 are already legendary, will be one of the marquee names. With success in other prestigious events like the Bathurst 1000, Van Gisbergen brings a lot of experience to the table. This will be his first Rolex 24 since 2020, but he has IMSA experience, including six previous starts.

“I love the 24 Hours of Daytona, and it’s awesome to do this with this team,” said Van Gisbergen, clearly excited about the upcoming challenge. This is both a professional and personal milestone for him to race alongside Scott McLaughlin, Connor Zilisch, and Ben Keating.

Trackhouse’s No. 91 Corvette will feature Connor Zilisch, an 18-year-old prodigy whose meteoric rise in the sport is already well-known. Zilisch won the Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) class at the Rolex 24 as part of a remarkable 2024 season that included victories at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, and his debut Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International. With a lighthearted remark about adding to his Rolex collection, he’s already looking forward to more Rolex wins. “I love my Rolex and if I can get another one, I might wear one on each wrist… I know our Corvette will be fast,” he said.

A star-studded driver lineup with diverse experience

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Three-time Supercars champion McLaughlin adds another layer of expertise to the team. McLaughlin’s versatility across multiple racing formats gives the team an advantage at Daytona. The Kiwi became the first driver to win three successive Supercars championships, sealing a hat trick of titles in 2020, winning 13 of the 27 races. With his legacy cemented in the supercar world, he decided to test out IndyCar in 2020 and ran his first race in St. Petersburg later that year. In 2021, he had a full-time IndyCar ride with Team Penske and won Rookie of the Year for a 14th-place championship finish.

“Shane and I have so much history racing against each other, including some time as teammates. He is one of the best racers I’ve ever competed against, so it’ll be great to be on his side again for Daytona,” said McLaughlin. Two Supercars legends driving together are surely going to be a treat to watch. The wealth of experience and skill between the Kiwi duo is nothing to be scoffed at, with SVG also having three supercars championships to his name (2016,2021,2022).

The final member of the team is Ben Keating who’s a seasoned endurance racer with experience in IMSA and other high-profile events. Keating owns 30 car dealerships in Texas and won the Rolex 24 in 2015 and multiple LMP2 titles. He’s a key asset to Trackhouse’s mission to conquer the Rolex 24.

“This is a fantastic way to kick off our 2025 racing program with Corvette Racing,” said TF Sport founder Tom Ferrier. “This team is a combination of sports car, IndyCar, and NASCAR all joining together for a common goal which is to win the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.” The unique experiences will give Trackhouse fresh perspectives for every setback in what is expected to be a grueling race.

Trackhouse Racing is taking a big step forward with the Rolex 24. Since entering NASCAR, the team has quickly made a name for itself, not just by winning races, but by positioning itself as a forward-thinking, international team. With a formidable driver lineup and a strategic partnership with TF Sport, Trackhouse keeps expanding its presence in global motorsport.

As Justin Marks explained, the ambition extends beyond simply participating, “We feel like this group we have put together can compete for the trophy.” These guys have a deep pool of talent and a drive to do well that is as inspiring as it is unhinged. Do you think they can win the Rolex 24?