Justin Marks, co-owner of Trackhouse Racing, has come out in support of signing Shane van Gisbergen instead of Zane Smith for their 2025 Cup Series roster. Marks feels that the New Zealand driver is a more suitable choice for their third Cup car, leading to the termination of Smith’s contract.
Since making his NASCAR debut at the Chicago Street Course last year, van Gisbergen has achieved remarkable success. He clinched victory in the Chicago Cup Series during his first outing and went on to dominate the 2024 Xfinity Series with three wins under his belt.
In contrast, Zane Smith has struggled this season, managing only one top-5 finish and two top-10s across 24 Cup races.
Trackhouse Racing previously operated two Cup cars and had loaned van Gisbergen and Smith to Kaulig Racing and Spire Motorsports, respectively. The team is set to expand to three full-time cars next year.
With Ross Chastain already secured through the end of 2025 and Daniel Suarez recently signing an extension, the team faced a choice between van Gisbergen and Smith for their #88 Chevy. They ultimately decided on van Gisbergen.
In response to Bob Pockrass’s inquiry about the choice to sign the New Zealander over the Californian, the co-owner shared his thoughts (via Jeff Gluck on X).
“It’s a commercial sport; it aligns with our company values and personality. We only have three cars, not four. We’re thrilled about our decision to go with SVG,” Marks explained.
In 2023, Smith entered into a multiyear agreement with Trackhouse, anticipating a spot in their 2025 Cup lineup. Unfortunately, that plan fell through, leaving him feeling “disappointed.”
“I never imagined it would come together this quickly,” remarked Shane van Gisbergen regarding his upcoming full-time schedule in the Cup Series.
Before making his mark in NASCAR, Shane van Gisbergen was a powerhouse in the Supercars Championship Series, clinching three titles and achieving three Bathurst 1000 victories along with numerous touring car wins.
He made a stunning impression during his debut at the Chicago Street race, which was a historic 78-lap event marking NASCAR’s first street race in its 75-year history.
After achieving the third-fastest qualifying speed, Shane van Gisbergen dominated the race by leading nine laps and driving his #91 Chevy to a first-place finish. However, his performance at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was less stellar, where he ended up in tenth place.
This strong showing earned him a full-time seat in the Xfinity Series, where he certainly made an impact, securing three victories, five top-5 finishes, and six top-10s.
Consequently, he was selected for the 2025 Cup Series lineup, taking the spot previously held by Zane Smith. The New Zealander expressed his excitement about his rapid rise in the sport, stating (via NASCAR):
“It’s been a pretty awesome 18 months. Yeah, it’s been a huge life change, as Justin said, and everything he said was going to happen has happened. I never thought it would happen this quick and I’m very glad we’ve done the learning year this year in Xfinity. Kaulig Racing has been great to work with, and then also a lot more races to finish the year now. Been a huge learning experience but just excited to get full-time in the Cup Series next year.”
It will be fascinating to see if Shane van Gisbergen can surpass his teammates in his rookie season in the Cup Series, kicking off with the 2025 Daytona 500.
