To call Shane van Gisbergen’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series a steep learning curve on oval tracks would barely scratch the surface. But on Sunday at Kansas Speedway, the road course ace finally conquered a major milestone—and he did it the hard way. Before the green flag even dropped for the Hollywood Casino 400, van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing team was hit with a series of penalties following pre-race inspection. NASCAR cited unapproved adjustments, resulting in the ejection of crew chief Stephen Doran, the loss of pit stall selection, and a stop-and-go penalty after starting from the rear of the field. Despite the setback, the three-time Supercars champion mounted a remarkable comeback, clawing his way to his first-ever top-10 finish on an oval in the Cup Series. “It was difficult to start a lap down and have that penalty,” van Gisbergen said. “But Chais Eliason, our interim crew chief, did a great job.” SVG’s race began in chaos—serving the penalty on Lap 1 and falling two laps down during Stage 1. But the New Zealander stayed focused. A free pass on Lap 91 brought him back onto the lead lap, and from there, the charge was on. […]
General Motors has revealed Team 18 as its new homologation team in Supercars, and announced an alliance between all teams, General Motors Motorsports and Chevrolet Racing. After a weeks-long search, triggered by Triple Eight’s switch to Ford, Team 18 has been confirmed as the official homologation partner of Chevrolet Racing. The Melbourne-based, Charlie Schwerkolt-owned team has campaigned GM machinery since 2015, with Team 18 operating as a two-car squad since 2020. Team 18 won out in a race that seemed set to be won by PremiAir Racing, with the former to take over from Ford-bound Triple Eight next season. Since the start of 2024, Schwerkolt has recruited decorated engineers Adrian Burgess and Dr Geoff Slater, with the team also benefiting from the experience of Richard Hollway, Som Sharma and Andrew Donnelly. Also confirmed Friday was that GM Motorsports, along with General Motors Australia & New Zealand, will form a new alliance with Chevrolet teams as part of its ongoing commitment to Supercars. GM said it will continue to work with Supercars, Team 18, and all Chevrolet teams to provide transparency and input throughout the homologation process. “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Team 18 Racing. There is no doubt […]
