NASCAR has a few standard celebrations for winning a race. Doing doughnuts in front of the fans or giving the checkered flag to a fan are the staples. Then you have a Polish victory lap, started by Alan Kulwicki, which involves driving clockwise instead of the traditional anti-clockwise format of NASCAR races. However, drivers have become more creative in recent times. One such driver is the 2023 Grant Park Chicago Street course winner Shane Van Gisbergen.

In his 12 part-time Cup Series starts this season, Shane van Gisbergen had his strongest oval performance at Martinsville during the penultimate race. SVG climbed from P29 to finish P12 by the end of the race. Van Gisbergen’s 2024 season showcased his adaptability and determination on the track but fans were also curious about his off-track celebrations.

The Trackhouse traditions of Shane van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen has previously said that the rugby ball has New Zealand on it which means a lot to him. For the New Zealand-born driver, the gesture is more than just a celebration—it’s a nod to his roots and his love for a sport he grew up playing. Rugby Union is the national sport of New Zealand and they boast three Rugby World Cup wins, just behind South Africa (4).

In an interview with Speedcafe TV, van Gisbergen explained how this tradition started. “That’s a Trackhouse idea,” he said, referring to the personalized celebrations his teammates do too. “Ross [Chastain]… he’s a fifth-generation watermelon farmer, he smashes a perfectly good watermelon” Chastain even had his infamous wall-ride at Martinsville in 2022 nicknamed the ‘hail melon’. “Daniel [Suárez], being Mexican he smashes up a pinata“. As a way to showcase his individuality and pride in his country, Van Gisbergen chose rugby.  

However, the celebration hasn’t always gone smoothly. In a humorous mishap at Sonoma Raceway, van Gisbergen admitted, “I thought I got it perfect but the ball was flat, so it didn’t go very far.” Despite this minor hiccup, the rugby ball kick has since become a fan-favorite moment at Trackhouse Racing events.  

Van Gisbergen’s quirky rugby ball celebrations are just one piece of his growing NASCAR story, and they’ll soon take center stage in a new chapter of his career. Building on his success in 2024, the three-time Supercars champion is set to join Trackhouse Racing’s 2025 Cup Series lineup. This marks a major step forward for both the driver and the team.

Trackhouse Racing welcomes SVG to their expanded Cup Series lineup  

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“This is a big day in so many ways for Trackhouse Racing, Shane, Chevrolet and race fans around the world,” said Trackhouse Racing founder and owner Justin Marks. The team has secured a third charter, allowing van Gisbergen to join Ross Chastain and Daniel Suárez in the competitive Next Gen cars. Marks credited the Trackhouse team’s accomplishments over the last few years for this expansion.  

Van Gisbergen left the Supercars Series with a determined mission, and now he’s in the Cup Series. “This is what I have planned for and I am ready,” he shared. 35-year-old Kiwi has already proven his abilities with Kaulig Racing in the 2024 Xfinity Series, winning Portland, Sonoma, and Chicago Street Race. Part-time Cup Series appearances this year, including seven upcoming races, have prepared him for next year.  

With 76 wins under its belt, the number 88 is rich in NASCAR history, having been driven by legends like Dale Earnhardt Jr., Darrell Waltrip, and Dale Jarrett. Seeing the No. 88 return in 2025 with a driver of van Gisbergen’s caliber adds another layer of excitement. Stephen Doran will be the crew chief for van Gisbergen’s No. 88 car on this journey. He was Kevin Harvick’s lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing from 2014 to 2023 and is now working with Zane Smith at Spire Motorsports. In the Cup Series, van Gisbergen and Doran will look to make an impact together.