“Good way to start”: Shane van Gisbergen shares his thoughts on race result days after dramatic flip

Shane van Gisbergen shared a positive outlook after finishing third in the sprint car series he is racing in during the NASCAR off-season. This came a day after his dramatic crash, which, as he claimed, was the first time that his car flipped in his racing career.

As Van Gisbergen prepares for his full-time debut in the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing in 2025, he has been warming himself up by taking part in sprint car series in the dirt during the off-season. Driving the #97 car, he finished the race in third place at Waikaraka Park. This was his first motorsport event in 2025 and he referred to it as a "good way" to start the year in a social media post.

"Good way to start the new year driving a race car! 3rd in heat one at Waikaraka Park before it rained out. Try again tonight at Western Springs 😀," he wrote on X.

His crash earlier came unprecedented as he tangled wheels with another driver on the track. This caused his car to spin and flip several times before coming to rest. Although it looked like a scary crash, Van Gisbergen was reported to be okay. He claimed that it was his first flip in racing.

"Well that was my first ever flip! Unfortunately got collected by someone and took a bit of a ride. Thanks to the safety crew for doing an amazing job. The United Truck Parts team are having at rebuilding the car and we should be racing tonight at Baypark again 🤞," Shane van Gisbergen on X.

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Shane van Gisbergen embraces "pressure" of piloting the #88 in the Cup Series in 2025

Trackhouse Racing is expanding in the upcoming season with three Chartered cars on the grid. The team will field three Chevrolets in 2025; Ross Chastain's #1, Daniel Suarez's #99, and Shane van Gisbergen's #88.

The #88 tag has been associated with many notable drivers in the past including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jarrett. Van Gisbergen is set to be the next driver to pilot the car in the Cup Series in the 2025 season with Trackhouse. Discussing this, the 35-year-old mentioned that Dale Jr. messaged him a day before his seat was announced and said that he hoped that the team would represent the number well.

"It's pretty cool," Van Gisbergen said via Speedcafe TV (at 17:00). "The other one who was before Dale Earnhardt Jr. was Dale Jarrett, so that's two pretty big drivers. Having Dale Earnhardt Jr. text me the day before we announced it about how cool it was and how he hopes we represent it well and stuff, nothing like a bit of pressure there, but pretty cool to have that. Obviously, would've loved to have raced with 97, but 88 is a special number."

Shane van Gisbergen showcased excellent skills in his first Xfinity season. He claimed three victories and was extremely competitive on road courses, given his experience racing in Supercars.