Trackhouse’s latest decision brings tears to Shane van Gisbergen’s eyes

Shane van Gisbergen was moved to tears after Trackhouse Racing’s latest announcement. The team shared an emotional video on X showing why the number 97 means so much to him and his family.

Trackhouse Racing recently confirmed that Gisbergen will drive the No. 97 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. His teammate Connor Zilisch will take over the No. 88, while Ross Chastain continues with the No. 1 car. The post was shared by Team Trackhouse with the caption

“It’s more than just a car number,”

In the video, the speaker, his father, tells Van Gisbergen,

“Hi mate, I hear you’re running 97, NASCAR Cup Series next year. That means so much to our family.” “Over the years, 97 was the legacy in New Zealand and Australia in all forms of motorsports. So proud you’re running it in USA. And, also, even when you won national titles, we are obliged to run #1. You still carried on, 97. So proud, mate.”

Hearing this message made Shane van Gisbergen emotional. At the end of the video, he wiped his teary eyes and said,

“The stuff he wrote about mom gets me.”

According to Frontstretch, Zilisch replaces Daniel Suarez, who has moved to Spire Motorsports. Gisbergen had been driving the No. 88 in 2025 but will supposedly return to 97, a number he used in Australia’s Supercars Championship and earlier in his NASCAR career. His father also raced with the same number.

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Shane van Gisbergen proud of his first full NASCAR season

As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season ended, Shane van Gisbergen looked back on his rookie year with pride. He said he was happy with how much he had improved and how well his team performed. He was also named the NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year.

NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year, Shane van Gisbergen poses for a photo on the red carpet during the 2025 NASCAR Awards Show at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa - Source: Getty

Coming from the Supercars Championship, many people wondered how fast Shane van Gisbergen could adapt to NASCAR. The different style of racing, especially on oval tracks, made the challenge even tougher. But he proved himself with strong results and steady growth. Speaking to Racer.com, Shane van Gisbergen said,

“I’ve really enjoyed it, and the wins have been great. That is more than we probably ever hoped for, but getting competitive on the ovals has been a plus, and I feel like we’ll have some good momentum going into next year. Our team isn’t changing much on the [No.] 88 car, so it’s pretty cool.”

In the first 14 oval races, Van Gisbergen’s average finish was 26.6. In the next 16 races, it improved to 23.2. His best oval finish came at Kansas Speedway, where he placed 10th in the postseason.

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Edited by Tushhita Barua