Trackhouse Racing Team has recently introduced Shane van Gisbergen as their third driver, taking the wheel of their #88 Chevrolet. Despite his impressive motorsport background, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has expressed reservations about van Gisbergen’s potential success in his upcoming full-time rookie season.
Currently, van Gisbergen is competing in the Xfinity Series as a full-time rookie, driving the #97 Chevrolet Camaro for Kaulig Racing. His motorsport career is nothing short of stellar, with notable achievements including three Australian Supercars championships, and top-five finishes in prestigious events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and GT Racing. The Kiwi driver made a memorable NASCAR debut at the inaugural Cup Series race on the Chicago Road Course, where he surprised the NASCAR community by clinching a victory in his very first race.
Despite these accolades, Denny Hamlin, a seasoned driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, remains skeptical about van Gisbergen’s chances of excelling in his rookie full-time season with Trackhouse Racing. During a recent episode of the Dirty Mo Media podcast, Hamlin candidly shared his thoughts on the challenges van Gisbergen might face, particularly in maintaining a strong standing throughout the season.
Hamlin stated, “If SVG is top 25 in points next year, I would be—I’d be shocked, I really would. He’s likely just gonna go win a road course, and then find themselves 16th or better. And as long as they keep multiple road courses in the playoffs, he could… I don’t know, he could go to the top eight.”
Hamlin’s concerns are grounded in the reality that van Gisbergen’s prior experience in other racing disciplines may not fully prepare him for the unique demands of a full-time NASCAR Cup Series campaign. As it stands, van Gisbergen currently holds the 12th position in the Xfinity Series standings. In his 22 starts so far, the 35-year-old driver has secured three race wins, six top-ten finishes, and three top-five finishes, which have cemented his place in the playoffs.
On the other hand, NASCAR veteran Kevin Harvick sees van Gisbergen’s move to Trackhouse Racing in a different light. Harvick believes that the decision to bring van Gisbergen on board goes beyond just his racing statistics. He suggests that Trackhouse Racing signed van Gisbergen largely due to his road course expertise, particularly with reports indicating that the 2025 schedule might feature a road course race in Mexico, a track where his skills could be particularly advantageous.
In a recent episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Harvick delved into why Trackhouse might have chosen van Gisbergen over other drivers, such as Zane Smith, who is also in their development program. Harvick remarked, “When you look at it, a lot of people say, ‘SVG in the Cup Series, why would Trackhouse not continue their development of Zane Smith and put SVG in the car?’ Well, the bottom line is, it sounds like they’re going to add Mexico City to the schedule, you’ve got six road courses on the schedule.”
Harvick further elaborated, “To me, it’s about being able to be in a position to win and putting yourself in the playoffs. You know, taking a chance and saying, ‘We feel like we’re going to win one of these road course races with SVG in the car.’ I feel like that’s what Justin Marks (owner of Trackhouse) is saying to himself and his team and his situation, and saying, ‘We’re going to win one of these races and we’re going to put ourselves in the playoffs with one of our cars right here.'”
Having already participated in a few Cup races this season, van Gisbergen’s full-time campaign in the upcoming season could present the ideal opportunity for him to fully demonstrate his talent and potential in the NASCAR Cup Series. His performance will be closely watched as he navigates this new chapter in his racing career.
“I’d be shocked if SVG is top 25 in points” – Denny Hamlin predicts Shane van Gisbergen’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series prospects
