Shane van Gisbergen to race in NASCAR with Kaulig Racing

In a recent confirmation, Shane van Gisbergen, three-time Supercars champion, has joined Kaulig Racing to participate in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. This news, though anticipated, marks a new stage in van Gisbergen's career as he will drive the No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro. This collaboration extends to his participation in both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series.

Kaulig Racing, which has already demonstrated its winning ability in both the Xfinity Series and the Cup Series, will be van Gisbergen's team in his endeavor to excel in the world of stock car racing. Although he is under contract with Trackhouse Racing, the alliance formed with Kaulig Racing facilitates this new venture. Van Gisbergen impressed in his debut in the Cup Series last year, achieving a victory at the Chicago Street Course with Trackhouse. Additionally, it was previously announced that he would compete in the entire NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Kaulig, as well as seven races in the Cup Series, although the team for these latter races had not been specified.

On Thursday, Kaulig Racing confirmed that van Gisbergen will participate in their car No. 16, which will also feature A.J. Allmendinger and Josh Williams throughout the 2024 season. As previously announced, the New Zealander will compete at COTA, the Coke 600, Chicago, Watkins Glen, the playoff race in Las Vegas, and both races at Talladega.

Van Gisbergen shared his excitement for this opportunity: "When I started talking to Trackhouse about moving to the U.S., we had no idea how many races we could secure, but I knew I wanted to be with that team and organization". This joint effort between Trackhouse and Kaulig represents a significant step in his career, allowing him to compete for a championship in the Xfinity Series and tackle a new challenge in the Cup Series on circuits and ovals.

June sees the return of the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina. This race is crucial for maintaining interest and excitement in Latin America, a region with a deep connection to rally raid. The Desafío Ruta 40 has established itself as an essential event in the calendar, noted for its challenging routes and varied landscapes.

Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing, expressed his excitement about working with Trackhouse and having Shane in their Cup program this season. He recalled that in the Chicago race, where van Gisbergen triumphed, his team finished in second place, which now places them in an interesting position to compete together. Justin Marks, founder of Trackhouse, added: “Shane is one of the most talented drivers I've seen. We know he will be competitive on circuits, so we needed to challenge him and ourselves on the oval tracks against the Cup Series drivers".
The relationship between Trackhouse and Kaulig extends beyond van Gisbergen. For example, a recent crew chief swap in the pit box of Daniel Suárez saw them exchange personnel with Kaulig. Travis Mack moved from being Suárez's crew chief to technical director of Kaulig's Cup operations and crew chief of the Chevrolet Camaro No. 16. Matt Swiderski, who was the competition director at Kaulig and crew chief of the No. 16, took Mack's place and will now be the crew chief for Suárez at Trackhouse.