TRACKHOUSE RACING COTA BUILD UP FOR SVG

MEDIA RELEASE/Trackhouse Racing – Photo: supplied

Trackhouse Racing brings four Chevrolets to Sunday’s road course race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (COTA). The race marks the NASCAR Cup Series debut of 18-year-old Connor Zilisch who will drive the team’s No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet. Zilisch won the pole in his Craftsman Truck Series debut at COTA in March last year, and then won the race in his Xfinity debut at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in September.

He’ll face the toughest challenge yet Sunday in the Cup Series where his fulltime teammates Daniel Suárez, Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen will each be one of the favorites to win.

Van Gisbergen Quotes:

What do you think about the course change to COTA? How might that impact things?

“I think the new course will be okay. I did like the long track, but I see why they (NASCAR) shortened it, to give more times past the fans and more action. The cut through they have done, we don’t lose any passing spots, more laps as well. I think the shorter track is probably a good thing.”

“What are your impressions of COTA? Kind of comparing it to some other tracks you’ve been to around the world.”

“I like the track and I think it’s pretty cool. The change they have done is really good, with the second extension or cut through. The one we did in Supercars would be terrible in these (Cup) cars, so they made a good call there. But there will probably be a bit of action, I think, with the tight left hander. It’s odd how we spend more time off the track than on it, but that’s how it is here, and it looks pretty cool when the cars are all battling.”

• NASCAR Meets Supercars at COTA: Shane van Gisbergen arrives to a track he is familiar with. In 2013, Van Gisbergen raced the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) “National” layout four times in V8 Supercars, securing three top-5 finishes in his four starts. Last year, NASCAR announced its shift to the 2.4-mile, 17 turn “National” Course formerly used by Supercars over a decade ago. The reconfiguration will eliminate approximately one mile of the backside of the permanent road course’s traditional layout and is expected to shave roughly a minute off lap times based off early NASCAR simulations.
• Last Year in Austin: Van Gisbergen pulled double-duty last year at COTA where he piloted the No. 97 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and No. 16 Chevrolet in the Cup Series, his first Cup Series race of the 2024 season. Van Gisbergen started on the front row for the Xfinity race, where he led 20 of the 50-lap race and was battling for the win on the final lap. He took the checkered flag second, before he was penalized. Van Gisbergen qualified 12th in the Cup event and ultimately finished 20th.
• Aboard the No. 88: This weekend in Austin, the No. 88 Chevrolet will carry the iconic red and white WeatherTech colors. The Bolingbrook, Ill., company founded by CEO David MacNeil will be a primary sponsor on Van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet for 19 races in 2025.
• Crew Chief: Stephen Doran begins his first season as Van Gisbergen’s crew chief on the No. 88 Chevrolet and his second year as a crew chief at the Cup level.
• Rookie Year: Shane van Gisbergen is a Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. In 2024, Van Gisbergen competed for the Rookie of the Year honors during his full-time Xfinity Series season.
• Daytona in January: Van Gisbergen competed in his sixth Rolex 24 Hour Race at Daytona International Speedway in January. The No. 91 WeatherTech Chevrolet Corvette fielded by Trackhouse by TF Sport had an all-star line-up: Trackhouse teammate Connor Zilisch, INDYCAR Driver Scotty McLaughlin, two-time world champion bronze driver Ben Keating and Van Gisbergen.

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