Van Gisbergen to race in NASCAR again next month

New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen will return to the United States to compete in the NASCAR Cup at the Indianapolis Road Course with Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 next month.

Van Gisbergen joins fellow Supercars driver Brodie Kostecki, who will be racing for Richard Childress Racing (RCR) at the event on the famed Indy circuit on Monday, 14 August, at 6.30 am (NZ Time).

The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard will be the Kiwi Supercars champion’s second run in NASCAR this season following his history-making victory at the Grant Park 220 over the Chicago Street Course on July 3.

“I never dreamed this could have all rolled out this way,” van Gisbergen was quoted in a release from the team.

“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 honoured to be part of it.”

The grid for the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard also features former Formula 1 driver Jenson Button and World Endurance Championship driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing, and 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Kamui Kobayashi.

“After a performance like that, it’s only natural to want to keep this going,” said Marks, the owner and founder of Trackhouse Racing. “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.”

“It was a true honour to be able to work with somebody like Shane van Gisbergen who put on a performance like that in his first start,” added crew chief Darian Grubb, who will oversee the race once again.