Shane van Gisbergen's boss Justin Marks has made a blunt admission about underestimating the New Zealander before signing him for a Cup Series effort in 2023. The Trackhouse Racing owner emphasized he didn't plan to run a full-time schedule with SVG but that changed after his first Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course.
SVG, a three-time Supercars champion, entered the NASCAR Cup Series last season on a part-time schedule for Trackhouse. It also marked the first time in the sport's 75-year history that it hosted a Premier level race on a street circuit.
The #91 Chevy driver had already showcased his road course prowess in the Supercars and Bathurst 1000s series, among others, but was yet to exhibit the same in the stock car racing series. At Chicago, Shane van Gisbergen delivered on his promise in startling fashion.
After qualifying third in his debut Cup race, the 35-year-old stayed inside the top 10 and led nine laps before becoming the first driver to secure a NASCAR Cup Series win on a street course. He went on to score a second successive top-10 finish in his second Cup race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course.
Speaking this week during EPARTRADE’s 5th Annual Race Industry Week, Justin Marks said he underestimated the New Zealander's prowess. He said,
"I'm really excited about Shane. I mean, it was not really on my radar to have Shane come and do this thing full time. Obviously, Chicago changed a lot of things for a lot of people in 2023 and we just loved working with him so much" (20:42).
Marks also praised his driver's character, saying:
"He's one of us, he's really wired like we are, he's a racer, but he'a great human being, he's a hard worker, he's selfless. He's got all the right things, plus he's a great story."
SVG's remarkable NASCAR entry landed him a full-time Xfinity Series ride for the 2024 season where he piloted Kaulig Racing's #97 Chevy, under a development driver deal with Trackhouse.
Shane van Gisbergen's dominant rookie Xfinity Series season became the catalyst for his full-time Cup Series deal
Shane van Gisbergen piloted Kaulig Racing's #97 Chevy in 33 races. He clinched three wins, seven top-5s, and ten top-10s in his rookie Xfinity Series effort. Just like he proved his dominance on the road courses in 2023, the New Zealander did the same in the NXS.
He earned his maiden Xfinity win at the Portland International Raceway's road course and continued his supremacy for a second succesive triumph at the Sonoma Raceway, another road course. SVG's third and final win this season came at the Chicago Street Circuit.
Thus, on August 24, 2024, before the season even neared its conclusion, Shane van Gisbergen's performance was dominant enough to lead boss Justin Marks to promote him to a full-time Cup Series schedule.
The New Zealander will race alongside Ross Chastain, the #1 Chevy driver, and Daniel Suarez, the #99 Chevy driver.