See Dale Earnhardt Jr. reaction to Shane van Gisbergen driving No. 88 car for Trackhouse Racing

Trackhouse Racing announced Saturday that Shane van Gisbergen will pilot the No. 88 Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025.

Yes, the double eight, a car driven by several Hall of Famers over the years including Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale Jarrett and Darrell Waltrip to name a few. Alex Bowman was the last driver to pilot the No. 88 in the Cup Series, but for the decade prior to his three-year run behind the wheel, it was all Earnhardt’s.

After Trackhouse unveiled van Gisbergen as the driver of the No. 88 car, Earnhardt shared a wholesome reaction to the news on X.

“I was lucky to run a few numbers with so much rich history,” Earnhardt wrote. “Excited to see @shanevg97 and @TeamTrackhouse add a new chapter to it. 88 will have a good home there.”

Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said that he consulted with Earnhardt as well as Hendrick Motorsports about reviving the No. 88 car. Earnhardt gave his blessing, as was the case a few years ago when Marks went to Carl Edwards first before opting to give the No. 99 to Daniel Suárez.

Trackhouse is the sixth team to have at least three full-time Cup Series charters next season.

Shane van Gisbergen ‘ready’ for full-time Cup Series opportunity

“This is a big day in so many ways for Trackhouse Racing, Shane, Chevrolet, and race fans around the world,” Marks said. “This is an important step for our organization and it’s a credit to the men and women at Trackhouse Racing whose hard work and success the last few years has led to us expanding to three Cup teams in 2025.

“It’s also a big step up for Shane who took a chance on Trackhouse Racing, moved here from New Zealand and now joins the most competitive stock car racing series in the world. Everyone will get to watch one of the world’s racing superstars compete in the NASCAR Cup Series next year.”

van Gisbergen, 35, will make the jump to the Cup Series less than two years after signing a developmental deal with Trackhouse. van Gisbergen, who won last year’s Chicago Street Race in his Cup Series debut, has competed full-time in the Xfinity Series this season for Kaulig Racing in partnership with Trackhouse.

He is the only driver in the Xfinity Series with three wins (Portland, Sonoma, Chicago), and sits 12th in the points standings. van Gisbergen has competed in four Cup Series races this season, his best finish a P20 at COTA back in March.

“This is what I have planned for and I am ready,” van Gisbergen said. “I know there is a tough learning curve ahead, but the best way to learn is to go out and do it. Feel I have made progress running the Xfinity Series this year with Kaulig Racing and I can’t thank everyone there enough. I look forward to the Cup Series. Those drivers and teams are the best in the world and it will be an honor to be part of their races.”