History of Shane van Gisbergen in Timeline

Shane van Gisbergen, nicknamed "The Giz," is a highly accomplished New Zealand professional racing driver. He currently competes in NASCAR, driving for Trackhouse Racing and JR Motorsports. Van Gisbergen is renowned for his successful career in the Supercars Championship, where he secured three championships in 2016, 2021, and 2022. Ranking 4th in all-time Supercars wins with 80 victories and 46 pole positions, he has also triumphed in the prestigious Bathurst 1000 race three times, in 2020, 2022 and 2023 solidifying his status as a prominent figure in motorsport.

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Full Timeline

1963: Johnny Rutherford's NASCAR Cup Series Debut Win

In 1963, Indy car driver Johnny Rutherford won in his NASCAR Cup Series debut. This feat was not repeated until Shane van Gisbergen's win in 2023.

1973: Mark Donohue's win as road course ringer

In 1973, Indy car driver Mark Donohue won as a 'road course ringer'; van Gisbergen was the first to repeat this feat since Donohue in 2023.

1978: Terry Labonte's top-ten finishes

In 1978, Terry Labonte achieved top-ten finishes in his first two NASCAR Cup Series starts. Van Gisbergen matched this feat in 2023.

May 1989: Shane van Gisbergen's birth

In May 1989, Shane Robert van Gisbergen, also known as SVG or The Giz, was born. He is a professional racing driver from New Zealand.

1998: Start of racing career

In 1998, Shane van Gisbergen began his racing career, competing in Motocross, Quarter Midgets, and karts until 2004.

1999: Tony Stewart's Rookie Season

In 2025, Van Gisbergen's third win of the season tied him with Tony Stewart (1999) for most wins in a rookie season in the Cup Series.

2002: Jimmie Johnson's Rookie Season

In 2025, Van Gisbergen's third win of the season tied him with Jimmie Johnson (2002) for most wins in a rookie season in the Cup Series.

2004: Continued racing career

In 2004, Shane van Gisbergen continued his racing career competing in Motocross, Quarter Midgets, and karts since 1998. He then placed third in the 2004/2005 New Zealand Formula First Championship.

2005: Third in New Zealand Formula First Championship

In 2005, Shane van Gisbergen placed third in the 2004/2005 New Zealand Formula First Championship and won the Rookie of the Year award.

2006: New Zealand Formula Ford Championship win

In 2006, Shane van Gisbergen won the 2005/06 New Zealand Formula Ford Championship and received another Rookie of the Year title.

2007: V8 Supercar debut

In 2007, van Gisbergen became the 200th driver to start a race in a V8 Supercar at the Jim Beam 400 at Oran Park Raceway, driving for Team Kiwi Racing.

2008: Signed with Stone Brothers Racing

In 2008, impressed by his 2007 performances, van Gisbergen was signed by Stone Brothers Racing.

2009: Bathurst 1000 lead lost due to pit stop issue

In the 2009 Bathurst 1000, van Gisbergen was leading until a prolonged pit stop on lap 108 due to starting issues, costing him the lead and many positions.

2011: Jason Richards' death

In 2011, Jason Richards died of cancer; a trophy was named in his honor, which van Gisbergen would later lift in 2016.

2011: Best championship finish with Stone Brothers Racing

In 2011, van Gisbergen secured a best of fourth in the championship with Stone Brothers Racing.

2012: Leaving V8 Supercars and legal action

In late 2012, van Gisbergen announced he would be leaving V8 Supercars. He later moved to Tekno Autosports at the start of the 2013 season and faced legal action for breaking his contract with Erebus Motorsport.

2013: Move to Tekno Autosports

In 2013, despite initial plans to leave V8 Supercars, van Gisbergen joined Tekno Autosports.

2014: BNT NZ Supertourers Hankook Super Series championship

In 2014, van Gisbergen co-drove to the BNT NZ Supertourers Hankook Super Series championship with Simon Evans, winning seven of the nine races in the Endurance rounds, including sweeping the Fuchs 500 weekend at Pukekohe Park Raceway.

2014: Runner-up in the championship with Tekno Autosports

In 2014, van Gisbergen finished as runner-up in the championship, driving for Tekno Autosports.

2014: Bathurst 1000 stall and starter motor failure

In the 2014 Bathurst 1000, van Gisbergen started from pole position but stalled with 10 laps to go, and a starter motor failure cost him a certain victory, resulting in a 16th-place finish.

2015: Blancpain Endurance Series entry

In 2015, van Gisbergen entered the Blancpain Endurance Series in a McLaren 650S GT3 run by Von Ryan Racing. He achieved two victories in the four races he entered but missed one round due to a date clash.

2015: Second place in 24 Hours of Daytona

In 2015, van Gisbergen finished in second place in the GTD class at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

2016: First Supercars Championship win

In 2016, Shane van Gisbergen won his first Supercars Championship, marking a significant career milestone.

2016: Bathurst 12 Hour and Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup win

In 2016, Van Gisbergen won the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour alongside Alvaro Parente and Jonathon Webb in the McLaren 650S GT3. He also won the 2016 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and finished 3rd overall in the 2016 Intercontinental GT Challenge.

2016: Bathurst 12 Hour win and lap record

In 2016, van Gisbergen drove a Tekno Autosports-supported McLaren 650S GT3 at the Bathurst 12 Hour, setting the fastest ever officially recorded lap of the Mount Panorama Circuit in qualifying. He went on to win the race alongside Álvaro Parente and Jonathon Webb.

2016: Move to Triple Eight Race Engineering and Supercars Championship win

In 2016, van Gisbergen joined Triple Eight Race Engineering, won his first race for the team at the Tasmania SuperSprint, secured the Enduro Cup with Alexandre Prémat, and won the Supercars Championship.

2016: Blancpain Endurance Series season win

In 2016, van Gisbergen won the Blancpain Endurance Series season with Côme Ledogar and Rob Bell, securing victories at the 3 Hours of Monza and the 1000 km Paul Ricard, despite missing the final round due to a clash with Supercars Championship commitments. He moved to McLaren's new Garage 59 team for this season.

2016: Kyle Busch at Indianapolis

In 2025, van Gisbergen became the second driver to sweep the Xfinity and Cup races in a single weekend from the pole, joining Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016.

2017: Title defense and championship finish

In 2017, partnering with Jamie Whincup under the Red Bull Holden Racing Team banner, van Gisbergen started his title defense with a double victory at Adelaide, but finished fourth in the championship.

2018: Multiple race wins and controversies

In 2018, van Gisbergen won both Race 1 and Race 2 at Adelaide, Race 18 at Townsville, the Sydney SuperNight 300, and Race 22 at Tailem Bend. He also controversially escaped a penalty for spinning his wheels during a pit stop at the Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe.

2018: Championship loss due to penalty

In the final round of 2018 at Newcastle, van Gisbergen won race 30 but received a 25-second post-race penalty for a refueling breach, dropping him to fifth place, and he finished second in the points standings behind Scott McLaughlin.

2020: First Bathurst 1000 win

In 2020, Shane van Gisbergen won his first Bathurst 1000 race, a significant achievement in his career.

2021: Second Supercars Championship win

In 2021, Shane van Gisbergen secured his second Supercars Championship, further solidifying his reputation in the sport.

2021: New Zealand Grand Prix win

In 2021, van Gisbergen won the New Zealand Grand Prix, which was restricted to a New Zealand-only field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He entered as a wildcard.

2022: Third Supercars Championship and Bathurst 1000 win

In 2022, Shane van Gisbergen achieved his third Supercars Championship and also won the Bathurst 1000.

2022: Bathurst 1000 win with Garth Tander

In 2022, van Gisbergen won the Bathurst 1000 with Garth Tander in what was the final race for Holden after the manufacturer was closed by GM.

May 2023: NASCAR Cup Series debut announcement

On 18 May 2023, it was announced that van Gisbergen would make his NASCAR Cup Series debut, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing's Project 91 program at the inaugural event at the Chicago Street Course.

July 2023: Second NASCAR Cup Series start announced

On 19 July 2023, Trackhouse Racing announced van Gisbergen would make his second start of the 2023 season at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

August 2023: NASCAR Truck Series and oval debut

On 2 August 2023, it was announced that van Gisbergen would make both his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR oval debut, racing in the 2023 TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on 11 August, driving the No. 41 for Niece Motorsports. He qualified 28th and finished nineteenth.

September 2023: Part-time NASCAR deal in 2024

On 14 September 2023, Trackhouse announced that van Gisbergen would drive part-time in all three of NASCAR's national series in 2024 as part of a development deal with the team.

December 2023: Full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series

On 13 December 2023, Kaulig Racing announced that van Gisbergen would compete full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 97 car.

2023: Third Bathurst 1000 win

In 2023, Shane van Gisbergen secured his third Bathurst 1000 victory, adding to his list of accomplishments.

2023: South Island Endurance Series

In 2023, Van Gisbergen competed in the South Island Endurance Series at Euromarque Motorsport Park, driving a Brabham BT62. The team encountered issues with a loose wheel and eventually retired from the race.

2023: NASCAR Cup Series debut win

In 2023, van Gisbergen won his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Grant Park 220 in Chicago, driving the No. 91 for Trackhouse Racing. He is the first driver to win in their NASCAR Cup Series debut since 1963 and the first New Zealander to win a race in the Cup Series.

January 2024: ARCA race and KHI Management signing

In January 2024, it was announced that van Gisbergen would compete for Pinnacle Racing Group in the ARCA race at Daytona. On 31 January, he signed with KHI Management.

August 2024: Van Gisbergen to drive full-time in Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing

On August 2024, it was announced that Shane van Gisbergen would drive full-time in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing, driving the No. 88 Chevrolet in 2025.

2024: Cup Series Races with Kaulig Racing

During the 2024 season, van Gisbergen ran select Cup Series races with Kaulig Racing driving the No. 13 for one race and the No. 16 for the rest of the races. He had a second place finish at Watkins Glen, a pole position at the Charlotte Roval and finished the season with one top five and two top tens along with one pole with an average finish of 22.8.

2024: Part-time NASCAR deal

In 2024, Trackhouse announced in September 2023 that van Gisbergen would drive part-time in all three of NASCAR's national series as part of a development deal with the team.

January 2025: Van Gisbergen to drive part-time in Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports

On January 2025, it was announced that van Gisbergen would drive part-time in the Xfinity Series in the No. 9 for JR Motorsports.

November 2025: Van Gisbergen to run No. 97 for second full-time season

On 7 November 2025, it was revealed that van Gisbergen would run the No. 97 for his second full-time season.

2025: Van Gisbergen marries Jessica Dane

In 2025, Van Gisbergen married Jessica Dane, current program manager at Corvette Racing.

2025: 2025 Cup Series Season

In 2025, van Gisbergen started the season with a 33rd-place finish at the Daytona 500. Despite struggling throughout the regular season, he secured a win and a playoff spot at Mexico City. He continued his road course dominance with wins at Chicago and Sonoma, becoming the winningest non-American driver in the Cup Series and tying records for rookie wins. He was eventually eliminated following the Bristol playoff race but still won at the Charlotte Roval.

Mentioned in this timeline

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