Corey LaJoie appeared excited after Trackhouse Racing revealed Shane van Gisbergen’s new automobile quantity for 2026. The previous NASCAR Cup driver highlighted the staff’s option to let drivers model their automobile numbers round their identification.
In a latest announcement video, Trackhouse handed every of its three full-time Cup drivers a letter to announce their 2026 quantity. SVG learn a observe from his father, Robert, which revealed his swap to No. 97. His father defined why the No. 97 issues to their household, because the Kiwi driver broke down studying the letter.
Trackhouse additionally determined to let go of No. 99, which Daniel Suárez drove for 5 seasons because the staff’s debut. LaJoie lauded the staff and its founder/proprietor, Justin Marks, for permitting the pliability. He replied to SVG’s emotional video on X, writing:
“Man this can be a massive deal. Kudos to [Justin Marks] and [Trackhouse Racing] for seeing the worth of branding the identification of a quantity across the driver relatively than forcing the driving force to evolve to an arbitrary quantity.”
SVG spent the 2024 Xfinity Collection full season within the No. 97 Chevy for Kaulig Racing and moved as much as the Cup Collection this 12 months. He received 5 Cup races within the No. 88 automobile with Trackhouse and locked in to the playoffs in his rookie season.
The roster shuffle now clears the No. 88 for rookie Connor Zilisch. The 19-year-old, who dominated the Xfinity Collection this season with a document 10 wins, opened a letter from his former staff proprietor, Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the meantime, Ross Chastain additionally bought a observe from Justin Marks and can proceed to drive the No. 1 automobile subsequent season.
“It is wonderful the place we’re at now in comparison with the place we began” – Shane van Gisbergen on enchancment at ovals
Shane van Gisbergen began the 12 months exterior the highest 30 however labored by struggles and improved his efficiency on ovals. He earned his first NASCAR Cup oval prime 10 at Kansas in September, completed eleventh at Talladega, and 14th at Martinsville.
The 36-year-old additionally received his first oval race in a Legends automobile at Charlotte Motor Speedway within the Professional Legends division in the course of the remaining evening of the Cook dinner Out Summer season Shootout.
“You recognize, Stephen was a fairly new crew chief, and the driving force was the issue at that stage. It was all new to me, so I believe we type of constructed up collectively. Yeah, we have been a Thirty fifth-, Thirty sixth-place automobile at first of the 12 months, and it is wonderful the place we’re at now in comparison with the place we began,” Shane van Gisbergen stated, through NASCAR.
Shane van Gisbergen additionally received the 2025 NASCAR Cup Collection Rookie of the Yr award in the course of the awards ceremony this Tuesday, November 4.
Edited by Hitesh Nigam
