TRACKHOUSE ANNOUNCES SVG’S 2024 NASCAR SCHEDULE & SPONSORS

MEDIA RELEASE/Trackhouse – Photos: supplied

Supercars Champ Will Run Full-time Xfinity Schedule With Kaulig Racing. Plus a Seven-Race Cup Schedule That Includes Chicago Return.

Beginning what will be one of the top international racing stories in the 2024 season, three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen has touched down in America and is ready to embark on his NASCAR career.  

Trackhouse Racing announced today that Van Gisbergen, the winner of the inaugural Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR debut in July, will race full-time in the Xfinity Series driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro with Kaulig Racing, while also driving in a minimum of seven Cup Series races in 2024. 

The 34-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native landed in the United States Monday ready to take on the greatest racing challenge of his lifetime.  

“After winning in Chicago, I could not stop thinking about racing full time in NASCAR,” said Van Gisbergen who won Supercars Championships for the Australian Triple Eight Race Engineering team in 2016, 2021 and 2022.  

“I am still stunned at how quickly this has all come together. I must thank the NASCAR industry and fans for embracing me and allowing me to chase this dream. I respect every driver who has put in the work to make it to the Cup Series, and I am ready to put in that same effort. I am anxious to get started.” 

In addition to full Xfinity duties, Van Gisbergen will participate in the following Cup races:

• Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin on March 24 
• Talladega Superspeedway on April 21 and October 6 
• Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26 
• Chicago Street Race on July 7 
• Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sept. 15
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 20.

Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks brought Van Gisbergen to NASCAR and Trackhouse last year as part of the team’s PROJECT91 program created to give international stars a chance to compete in the sport. Through PROJECT91, 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen raced in NASCAR in 2022 and 2023.  

“We know Shane will be incredibly competitive at the road course events in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity series, but we wanted to get him as much experience on NASCAR ovals as possible, so I am really excited about his 2024 schedule,” said Trackhouse Racing founder and owner Justin Marks. “Kaulig Racing has a history of winning in the Xfinity Series and as a fellow Chevrolet team, we are so thankful Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice see the potential in Shane that we see. The anticipation for this season is palpable.” 

Van Gisbergen’s Chicago victory and 10th-place finish on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 13 are his only two Cup Series starts. His only other NASCAR experience came Aug. 11 at Indianapolis Raceway Park where he made his paved oval career debut. He kept a lead lap position until the final few laps, finishing 19th.  

After taking over the lead from former Kaulig Racing driver Justin Haley at Chicago with five laps remaining, Van Gisbergen became one of six foreign-born drivers to win a Cup Series race and the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start. It was just the latest entry in a resume that includes three Supercars titles, 80 wins and 48 pole positions making him the fourth most successful driver in Supercars series history. 

He also won the Bathurst 1000, the premier race in Australia, in 2020, 2022 and 2023. 

Van Gisbergen joins a Kaulig Racing organization that has won two Cup races and 23 Xfinity races since the team’s inception in 2016. The Welcome, North Carolina team won the 2023 Bank of America ROVAL 400, as well as four Xfinity races with a variety of drivers. Van Gisbergen will join Kaulig Racing teammates Josh Williams, driver of the No. 11 Chevrolet and AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 in 2024 Xfinity season. 

“We started our talks with Trackhouse about the possibility of putting SVG in a Xfinity car for a few races quite some time ago, and from there the talks evolved to discussions about how much it would cost to run a full season,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “Once we knew we had an open seat for next season, it became the perfect scenario to put him in the car. We partner with Trackhouse’s pit crew department, and with their key support from Chevrolet, it made teaming up an easy decision.”

WeatherTech Announces Major Sponsorship with Trackhouse Racing 

Will Serve as Primary Sponsor on SVG’s 2024 Xfinity and Cup Races  As Well as Zane Smith’s No. 71 Chevrolet in 2024 Daytona 500 

Trackhouse Racing announced today that WeatherTech, a leading manufacturer of premium American-made automotive accessories, home and pet care products, will serve as the primary sponsor in a majority of three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen’s NASCAR Xfinity and Cup races in 2024.  

WeatherTech’s involvement also goes beyond its effort with Van Gisbergen.  

The Bolingbrook, Ill. company founded by CEO David MacNeil, will be part of the 2024 Daytona 500 serving as the primary sponsor for Trackhouse development driver Zane Smith’s No. 71 Chevrolet fielded by Spire Motorsports.  

“I think everyone in the automotive and racing world knows WeatherTech and its commitment to motorsports over the years,” said Trackhouse owner and founder Justin Marks.  

“What an absolute honor it is for us that WeatherTech will be part of our 2024 developmental season with Shane and Zane. I raced sports cars for years and got to know David and Cooper MacNeil, while witnessing their colors take the checkered flag many times. Who better to pair with Shane than a company like WeatherTech that has played such an important role in sports car racing.”

“It will be a career highlight for me to see the familiar WeatherTech scheme on a NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet in the Daytona 500 with Zane Smith.” 

Earlier today Trackhouse announced that Van Gisbergen will race full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2024 with Kaulig Racing and enter seven Cup Series races.   

In addition to full Xfinity duties, Van Gisbergen will participate in the following Cup races: 

• Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin on March 24 
• Talladega Superspeedway on April 21 and October 6 
• Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 26 
• Chicago Street Race on July 7 
• Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International on Sept. 15 
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 20. 

WeatherTech will serve as primary sponsor for 17 Xfinity races as well as the Cup races at COTA, Charlotte, Watkins Glen and the fall Talladega race.  

“When I decided to come to America and race, I told Justin (Marks) that I wanted to do everything the right way,” said Van Gisbergen. “Bringing in a company like WeatherTech as a partner shows how seriously myself and Trackhouse are taking the 2024 season. I am honored WeatherTech put its faith in the effort and know it will pay dividends.” 

Van Gisbergen arrived in America this week with a resume that includes Supercars Championships for Triple Eight Race Engineering in 2016, 2021 and 2022, plus 78 wins and 47 pole positions making him the fourth most successful driver in series history. He also won the Bathurst 1000 in 2020, 2022 and 2023. 

Van Gisbergen took the international racing world by storm when he won in his debut NASCAR event in the Chicago Street Race on July 2. He returned to America on Aug. 13 for the Cup race on the Indianapolis Road Course where he finished 10th. His lone oval start came in a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race when he finished 19th at Indianapolis Raceway Park.  

On Sept. 16, Trackhouse Racing announced a multi-year driving agreement with Smith, the 2022 truck series champion, and its aim to operate three full-time NASCAR Cup Series entries in 2025. In 2024, Smith will race full-time in the Cup Series, driving a Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse. 

Smith finished 10th in last year’s Daytona 500.  

“This is great news for us,” said the 24-year-old Smith who has won nine truck series races in four seasons. “I hope our Chevrolet is fast because I know we are going to look good in the WeatherTech paint scheme.”  

 Smith said he’s been a WeatherTech customer for years. 

“I’ve already gone to WeatherTech’s website to find things for my personal cars,” he said. “You always want a sponsor who does cool things or makes cool stuff and looks like we got one of the best for Daytona.” 

WeatherTech and IMSA announced in October the extension of WeatherTech’s entitlement sponsorship of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for five additional years, bringing the partnership through at least 2030. 

The Illinois-based automotive accessories company, known for its custom floormats, became the title sponsor of IMSA’s top series in 2016, in what was an initial ten-year deal.  

Today’s announcement with Trackhouse marks the first time it has been the primary sponsor of a car in the Daytona 500.  

“This is a big step for our company and exciting news for our employees, customers and everyone in the WeatherTech family,” said WeatherTech founder and CEO David MacNeil. “NASCAR racing is the pinnacle of American motorsports, and we hope millions of viewers will see Shane and Zane in the WeatherTech paint schemes this season.”

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