Latest news with #Project91
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR's Trackhouse Racing Breaks Silence on the Fate of Project 91
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing's owner, Justin Marks, has opened up about the future of Project 91, whose car was last used in the Daytona 500. While the team remains occupied with its current driver lineup, the future of the program has been uncertain. Project 91 fields the No. 91 Chevrolet, an experiential initiative by Trackhouse to offer a Cup Series seat to potential talent. Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen made his way into NASCAR in 2022 at Watkins Glen through the same initiative. The following year saw him race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin with Project 91. Although Marks confirmed that the program was important for Trackhouse, it is currently not a priority, considering that the team needs to focus on ensuring the full-time cars are running at full steam. Marks, however, stressed that Project 91 was close to his heart and that it is an important initiative for NASCAR. He said: "I mean, I love Project 91. It's near and dear to my heart. I think it's important for the sport. I think it's obviously been very creative to our business. We've been able to do big sponsorship deals that have come through Project 91. Obviously great talent, you know, through Project 91, so it's an important mechanism in the business. Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks (L) speaks to Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez... Trackhouse Racing team owner Justin Marks (L) speaks to Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #88 Safety Culture Chevrolet, on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. More"It is a draw on the company. It is tough. Daytona was really really tough this year to take four cars there, which is why with the races we're doing with Connor, we went to do Daytona, and then park it. I very much would like to keep that program alive." Despite it being in a dormant state, Marks stated that Trackhouse has a strategy in place for Project 91. "We've got a couple of fairly interesting opportunities. With everything that we're trying to do in the company to get us back into championship form, it's like No. 85 on the list right now. But it's not dead. There are conversations happening, there is a strategy around it." Trackhouse made headlines at Watkins Glen International after Connor Zilisch suffered a hard fall from his car while celebrating his Xfinity race win. The impact led to a broken collarbone, resulting in Trackhouse withdrawing the No. 87 car from Sunday's Cup Series race. A statement from the team read: "Trackhouse Racing has elected to withdraw the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet from tomorrow's NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. We wish Connor a speedy recovery." Zilisch posted a health update from the hospital. He wrote: "Thank you everybody for reaching out today. I'm out of the hospital and getting better already. Thankfully, CT scans for my head are clear, I just have a broken collarbone. Thankful for all the medics for quick attention and grateful it wasn't any worse."
Fox News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
Trackhouse Racing Signs Shane van Gisbergen to Multi-Year Extension
After making the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as a rookie, Shane van Gisbergen has earned a multi-year extension with Trackhouse Racing. The team announced Friday that the Auckland, New Zealand native will continue "for years to come." No further terms were released. With victories from the pole position at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma Raceway, van Gisbergen has secured the fourth seed in the 2025 playoffs with three races remaining in the regular season. "I feel like Trackhouse Racing is my home," van Gisbergen, 36, said in a release. After winning three championships in the Australian-based Supercars series, van Gisbergen was hired by Trackhouse two years ago as part of its Project 91 program to showcase international drivers in NASCAR's premier series. At the inaugural Chicago Street Race in July 2023, van Gisbergen became the first driver to win in his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in 1963. Van Gisbergen moved to NASCAR last year and made the Xfinity Series playoffs with two victories for Kaulig Racing. He moved up to Cup with Trackhouse this year in the No. 88 Chevrolet and became the winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR history. In Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, van Gisbergen will seek to join Chase Elliott and Jeff Gordon as the only drivers with four consecutive Cup wins on road or street courses. "We are getting to watch one of the superstars of racing," Trackhouse Racing founder Justin Marks said in a release. "What we are asking him to do carries a high degree of difficulty. He's moved to the other side of the world, learned a new form of racing and at times dominated the competition. He's one of the greatest." No. 1 Chevy driver Ross Chastain and van Gisbergen are under contract for 2026, but Trackhouse has yet to announce who will drive its third car, with Daniel Suarez leaving the No. 99 Chevrolet after the season. Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch, who has five wins for JR Motorsports, will make his fourth Cup start Sunday for Trackhouse Racing and has been mentioned as a prime candidate to fill Suarez's ride. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
4 days ago
- Automotive
Trackhouse Racing signs Shane van Gisbergen to multiyear extension
CONCORD, N.C. -- After making the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs as a rookie, Shane van Gisbergen has earned a multiyear extension with Trackhouse Racing. The team announced Friday that the Auckland, New Zealand, native will continue 'for years to come.' No further terms were released. With victories from the pole position at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma Raceway, van Gisbergen has secured the fourth seed in the 2025 playoffs with three races remaining in the regular season. 'I feel like Trackhouse Racing is my home,' van Gisbergen, 36, said in a release. After winning three championships in the Australian-based Supercars series, van Gisbergen was hired by Trackhouse two years ago as part of its Project 91 program to showcase international drivers in NASCAR's premier series. At the inaugural Chicago Street Race in July 2023, van Gisbergen became the first driver to win in his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in 1963. Van Gisbergen moved to NASCAR last year and made the Xfinity Series playoffs with two victories for Kaulig Racing. He moved up to Cup with Trackhouse this year in the No. 88 Chevrolet and became the winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR history. In Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, van Gisbergen will seek to join Chase Elliott and Jeff Gordon as the only drivers with four consecutive Cup wins on road or street courses. 'We are getting to watch one of the superstars of racing,' Trackhouse Racing founder Justin Marks said in a release. 'What we are asking him to do carries a high degree of difficulty. He's moved to the other side of the world, learned a new form of racing and at times dominated the competition. He's one of the greatest.' No. 1 Chevy driver Ross Chastain and van Gisbergen are under contract for 2026, but Trackhouse has yet to announce who will drive its third car with Daniel Suarez leaving the No. 99 Chevrolet after the season.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Shane Van Gisbergen Extends NASCAR Stay With Trackhouse Racing Deal
In NASCAR news that would be shocking if it didn't happen, Trackhouse Racing announced a contract extension with Shane van Gisbergen Friday. But this isn't a one-off dip-your-toes in the NASCAR waters deal, it's a multiyear contract extension meaning the likable New Zealander isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It all started with a one-off race with Trackhouse's Project91 in 2023 that ended with SVG in victory lane and set him on a course to race in NASCAR. "I feel like Trackhouse Racing is my home," said the 36-year-old Van Gisbergen, who's been proclaimed the greatest NASCAR road racer in history in some circles. "Trackhouse gave me the opportunity to race at Chicago in 2023. That was just a one-race deal, and everything that has happened since then is because of the chance Justin (Marks, Trackhouse founder and owner) took on me. The men and women at Trackhouse have helped me feel at home in this new challenge, and I've been loving every minute of it. We still have a lot of work to do, but I couldn't be happier." The team couldn't be happier either. After all, the former Australian Supercars champion became the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start. But that win in Chicago was only just the start. After a year spent under a development contract with Trackhouse, he raced full-time with Kaulig Racing in the Xfinity Series in 2024. He did make 12 Cup series starts in 2024, but Trackhouse made room for him adding a third fulltime slot on their team, and he's rewarded them handsomely. Since that Chicago win in 2023 he's added three more victories, all of those coming this year in his first full time Cup season with the Trackhouse. He won the inaugural Mexico City race, the Chicago Street Race again and at Sonoma. He also grabbed a Xfinity Series victory at the Chicago Street Race, driving for JR Motorsports. Those Cup wins pushed his career total to four victories in just 37 career races. That makes him the quickest driver to score three wins in NASCAR's modern era. And if you're wondering who holds the record for most road course wins in Cup history… well, he's got that too. With all that what NASCAR team in their right mind wouldn't want someone of SVG's caliber signed for many more years. After all there aren't many drivers capable of doing what he's done: fly halfway across the planet, learn a completely different type of racing, and still make seasoned veterans look like they've left the parking brake on. "We are getting to watch one of the superstars of racing," said team owner Justin Marks. "What we are asking him to do carries a high degree of difficulty. He's moved to the other side of the world, learned a new form of racing and at times dominated the competition. He's one of the greatest." So SVG is here to say. He's going to be celebrating wins, kicking signed rugby balls into the stands for many years to come and keeping competitors worried on every road course on the schedule.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
'One of the greatest': SVG signs new NASCAR Cup deal
Three-time Supercars champ Shane van Gisbergen has earned a multi-year contract extension with his Trackhouse Racing team after his spectacular rookie year in the NASCAR Cup. The team announced on Friday that the New Zealander would continue "for years to come", but they didn't reveal any further terms. With victories from pole at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma Raceway, van Gisbergen has secured the fourth-seed spot in the 2025 playoffs with three races remaining in the regular season. "I feel like Trackhouse Racing is my home," the 36-year-old said in a statement. After his success in Australia's Supercars series, van Gisbergen was hired by Trackhouse two years ago as part of its Project 91 program to showcase international drivers in NASCAR's premier series. At the inaugural Chicago Street Race in July 2023, 'SVG' became the first driver to win in his Cup debut since Johnny Rutherford in 1963. Van Gisbergen moved to NASCAR last year and made the Xfinity Series playoffs with two victories for Kaulig Racing. He then moved up to Cup with Trackhouse this year in the No.88 Chevrolet and became the most successful overseas winner in NASCAR history. In Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, van Gisbergen will seek to join Chase Elliott and Jeff Gordon as the only drivers with four consecutive Cup wins on road or street courses. "We are getting to watch one of the superstars of racing," Trackhouse Racing founder Justin Marks said in a release. "What we are asking him to do carries a high degree of difficulty. He's moved to the other side of the world, learned a new form of racing and at times dominated the competition. He's one of the greatest."
