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Debate

Can Shane van Gisbergen's full-time debut shake up the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025?

Trackhouse Racing has had a decent Cup Series 2024 season, with both of its drivers being in the playoffs. Apart from the #1 and #99 drivers, Trackhouse also had another driver in the lineup. The team loaned Zane Smith to Spire Motorsports for the year due to the lack of a charter. As the team has plans for buying another charter for next year, it signed a multi-year deal with Smith, considering his this season’s Spire record.

However, tables turned when Kaulig Racing allegedly decided to let go of Shane van Gisbergen in place of AJ Allmendinger. This was an opportunity that Trackhouse didn’t want to miss. And since there is going to be just one spare charter with Trackhouse in 2025, that it will buy from Stewart Haas Racing, it had to make a tough call.

Who will be driving for Trackhouse Racing in 2025?

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The team has already confirmed to continue its existing two drivers for the next season lineup. The #1 driver, Ross Chastain, already had a multi-year contract with Trackhouse. Now, the #99 driver, Daniel Suarez, has also been signed to continue in 2025. The team is supposed to buy another charter for the next season from Stewart Haas Racing, for which it had Zane Smith in the pipeline.

But the team announced yesterday that it will no longer be going forward with Smith’s contract. Apparently, both the driver and the team have mutually decided to part ways, voiding the previously signed contract. Bob Pockrass tweeted on X about the news and the likeliness of the driver in the upcoming announcement by Trackhouse.

There is no doubt SVG will be a great addition to the team, seeing his high-octane racing skills in both Xfinity and Cup Series. SVG has been driving part-time in NCS with Kaulig Racing for 2024. While Kaulig has extended SVG’s 2024 schedule by adding four more races, they have other plans for their full-time spot for next year. On the other hand, SVG seems ready for the full-time transition to the Cup.

What’s your perspective on:

Can Shane van Gisbergen's full-time debut shake up the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025?

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Interestingly enough, SVG was introduced to NASCAR by Trackhouse owner Justin Marks in 2022 via Project91. He loaned him to Kaulig for its #16 All-Star race car as both teams have integral partnerships for crew and car support. And now that the Kiwi driver has accumulated all the experience it needed to compete full-time in the top series, it is likely a go for SVG in Trackhouse Racing.

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What has been SVG’s record so far?

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The three-time Supercars champion is known for his exceptional burnout after winning the 2022 Supercars Championship. He won his first NASCAR race at the inaugural Chicago Street Course in 2023. He fell in love with the new racing format and the road courses in general. SVG won his first Xfinity race this year at the Portland International Raceway. He has won in all three races this year in Xfinity with a 12th rank. He also managed to lead 14 laps in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Talking about his appearance at Darlington, SVG said, “I was told when I came to the States that Darlington was the toughest track on the circuit, and I can’t dispute that, but I immediately fell in love with the place. It is just so much fun to drive and I am keen to drive a Cup car there.”

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SVG also shares that he needs more practice with the ovals: “To me, the road courses are a regular race, but the ovals are a challenge, one I am hoping to conquer soon. I’m looking forward to this second half of the season.”

There are high hopes for SVG from all the stakeholders involved and his raw potential will be unlocked next year, whoever he chooses to race for. One thing is for sure, that he will be racing, as he asserted, “I came to race.” SVG will be seen at the Daytona 500 for the first of his five-race extended schedule.