Trackhouse boss Justin Marks reveals the NASCAR full-time Cup seat that ‘makes sense’ for Shane van Gisbergen

Shane Van Gisbergen debuted with Trackhouse Racing at the Chicago Street Race and won it.

Daniel Suarez and Shane van Gisbergen (Credits: @shanevg97/Twitter)

In a history-making NASCAR debut, Shane van Gisbergen triumphed in downtown Chicago, igniting speculation about his future in the sport. The New Zealander secured victory with Trackhouse Racing after a stunning 3rd place qualifying at the Grant Park 220. His phenomenal win has set tongues wagging about a potential full-time switch to NASCAR, and Trackhouse Racing stands as a prime contender.

Van Gisbergen’s remarkable feat makes him the first New Zealand-born driver to conquer NASCAR’s top division. He is also the first-ever in six decades rookie to win his debut race. The Grant Park 220 saw him masterfully climbing from 18th place to claim victory in overtime in a 78-lap shortened race.

After his unforgettable debut, the racing world wonders whether Van Gisbergen will embrace a permanent spot in the NASCAR Cup Series. Trackhouse Racing appears as a natural fit, with team owner Justin Marks expressing his excitement about the possibility. “I would love to have Shane in NASCAR for NASCAR,” Marks revealed, adding that “if he’s going to do this, it would only make sense that he does it with us.”

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Van Gisbergen, an accomplished Supercars Championship driver, competes for Triple Eight Race Engineering, driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. His crossover to NASCAR earned him a place in the history books and has left fans eagerly anticipating his next move.

Discover: Shane van Gisbergen reportedly received multiple full-time NASCAR Cup offers after the historic Chicago win

Will Justin Marks consider expanding Trackhouse Racing for Shane Van Gisbergen?

Justin Marks with his Trackhouse Racing team, Ross Chastain (Credits: Autoweek)

For Trackhouse Racing, expanding to accommodate Van Gisbergen seems worth considering. The team had already explored the possibility of a third full-time team even before his debut, with the door still open for a future partnership. However, Justin Marks has pushed the idea of a third full-time driver for over a year. With other teams already queuing up to rope in the Kiwi driver, Marks will be reconsidering the subject.

Trackhouse Racing is currently seventh in the standings and has a caliber of winning a championship in the near future. As of now, both Daniel Suarez and Ross Chastain have recently signed a multi-year contract with the PitBull-owned team. Thus replacing either of them will not be the team’s first and wise choice. But the team can expand to three-car operations, and with project 91, they have built a solid base.

The 34-year-old van Gisbergen, a New Zealand native, got a chance to drive the No. 91 Chevrolet in Chicago as part of Trackhouse Racing's Project 91 . The goal for the team is expanding its global reach. https://t.co/BvFDHya6ai
— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) July 3, 2023

In the wake of his extraordinary victory, Shane Van Gisbergen’s name resonates throughout the racing community, leaving fans eager to see what the future holds. Whether he will seize the opportunity to embrace a permanent NASCAR journey remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Trackhouse Racing stands ready to welcome him with open arms.