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DAYTONA BEACH — Another piece of the 2025 racing puzzle fell into place Saturday when Trackhouse Racing confirmed rumors.
The team, co-owned by Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull, will field a third Cup Series entry next year and put Shane Van Gisbergen in the seat, with an historic NASCAR number — 88 — adorning the roof and sides.
“For us to come in as a one-car team in 2021, win seven races in the next 2½ years after that, continue this amazing journey, this is obviously a huge moment,” Marks said. “We’re very excited.”
Trackhouse currently fields Cup Series Chevrolets for Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez. The team brought Van Gisbergen to the U.S. last summer to enter the inaugural Chicago Street Race, and he became the first driver to win his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford did it 60 years earlier.
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The New Zealand native and Aussie SuperCars champion expressed a desire to change continents and racing disciplines, leading to his full-time Xfinity Series and part-time Cup schedule this year. He leads the Xfinity Series with three wins — all on road courses at Portland, Sonoma and Chicago.
“It’s been a pretty awesome 18 months. I never thought it would happen this quick,” Van Gisbergen said. “It’s not gonna be easy, that’s for sure, but we’ll keep pushing. Can’t wait.
“It’s a really cool team to be a part of.”
That team’s three drivers are from three different countries — Suarez is from Mexico and Chastain a Florida native.
Marks confirmed the team purchased a NASCAR charter from Stewart-Haas Racing for the third team. Stewart-Haas is shutting down at season’s end. Purchase price wasn’t disclosed.
As for the No. 88, with obvious connections to Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip, and other past NASCAR winners, the rights to the number actually belonged to JR Motorsports. That team is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister Kelly Earnhardt Miller, who gave the go-ahead for Trackhouse to return that number to the track.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Trackhouse and Pitbull hire Shane Van Gisbergen for 3rd NASCAR Cup car
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