After taking an unlikely victory in his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Chicago Street Course earlier this month, Shane Van Gisbergern is set to return to NASCAR's premier series to contest a second career start.
The 34-year-old driver will return to Trackhouse Racing, piloting the No. 91 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as part of the organization's PROJECT91 program, which has made three prior starts with drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Van Gisbergen.
"I never dreamed this could have all rolled out this way," said the three-time Supercars champion. "Just getting to race in NASCAR is an opportunity I never thought I would get, but then to win and get another chance this year is beyond anything I imagined."
"I can't thank Justin Marks, everyone at Trackhouse Racing and NASCAR for this opportunity. Everyone in NASCAR welcomed me to Chicago and it's been awesome to see how big the reception from that race has been around the world. I am honored to be part of it."
With his victory in the inaugural Grant Park 220, Van Gisbergen became one of six foreign-born drivers to win at NASCAR's top level, while also becoming the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win on debut in the NASCAR Cup Series.
It was the latest addition to a resume that includes 78 wins, 47 poles, and three championships in Australian Supercars, as well as a pair of victories in the Bathurst 1000 in 2020 and 2022.
For Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, thoughts of having Van Gisbergen back in the NASCAR Cup Series began as soon as the checkered flag fell in Chicago.
After a performance like that it’s only natural to want to keep this going,” said Marks. “Shane showed he is a world-class talent and what he did in Chicago was truly remarkable. PROJECT91, Trackhouse Racing, and the fans of NASCAR benefit by bringing him back. I don’t think I am being overly dramatic when I say the entire motorsports world will be watching the No. 91 Chevrolet at Indianapolis.”
Darian Grubb will once again serve as the crew chief of the entry, after scoring a victory with his seventh different driver in NASCAR Cup Series competition.
“It was a true honor to be able to work with somebody like Shane van Gisbergen who put on a performance like that in his first start,” Grubb said. “The team did an incredible job preparing the car, being ready for the moment and putting it all out there on the line, and letting him put that show on. You’re never going to forget that. It’s the first event; we all wanted some souvenirs and stuff from it just to make sure we remembered it for life and tell our grandkids about it. It was really cool and I hope we can do that again in Indy.”
Van Gisbergen will be joined by fellow Supercars title contender Brodie Kostecki, who has joined Richard Childress Racing to pilot the No. 33 Chevrolet Camaro. Jenson Button and Kamui Kobayashi are also expected to enter.
Image Courtesy of Will Bellamy, Racing America