NASCAR
SVG to run Full-Time Xfinity, Select Cup Races in 2024
WELCOME, N.C. – One of the biggest question marks of NASCAR silly season has now been answered. Three-time Supercar champion Shane van Gisbergen has unveiled his 2024 NASCAR schedule. The New Zealander will race full-time in Kaulig Racing’s No. 97 Xfinity Series Chevrolet Camaro with sponsorship from WeatherTech. In addition, SVG will also run select Cup Series races.
The 34-year-old Auckland, New Zealand native arrived back to America on Monday. He is ready for arguably his biggest racing challenge yet.
“After winning in Chicago, I could not stop thinking about racing full time in NASCAR,” said van Gisbergen. “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 the 33-race Xfinity Series calendar, van Gisbergen will also compete in the following Cup races:
- Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, March 24
- Talladega Superspeedway, April 21 and October 6
- Charlotte Motor Speedway (Coca-Cola 600), May 26
- Chicago Street Race, July 7
- Watkins Glen International, September 15
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway, October 20.
Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks introduced van Gisbergen to NASCAR with Trackhouse last year. SVG was integral as part of Trackhouse’s PROJECT91 program. This new endeavor was created to give international stars a chance to compete at the sport’s top level. Through PROJECT91, 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen also 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. 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 Indianapolis Road Course in August are his only two Cup Series starts so far. His only other NASCAR experience came August 11 at Indianapolis Raceway Park. This was his paved oval debut in the Craftsman Truck Series. He finished 19th that night with Niece Motorsports.
Van Gisbergen put the NASCAR world on notice last summer. He became one of only six foreign-born drivers to win a Cup Series race. Even more notably, he was the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win in his Cup Series debut. These achievements only add onto his racing accolades from down under. SVG’s résumé includes three Supercar titles, 78 wins and 47 poles. He is the fourth-most successful driver in Supercar series history. He also won Australia’s premier racing event, the Bathurst 1000, three times in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Van Gisbergen will join Kaulig Racing teammates Josh Williams and AJ Allmendinger in the 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,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “From there the talks evolved to discussions about how much it would cost to run a full season. 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. With their key support from Chevrolet, it made teaming up an easy decision.”
Kaulig Racing now has two of the best road racing talents around today in Xfinity. It will be a treat to watch SVG and AJ Allmendinger duel as teammates for wins aplenty in 2024. Expect big things out of both series for van Gisbergen, with at least 40 starts ahead in his NASCAR timeline.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Kaulig Racing
