“One, but hopefully two”: Shane van Gisbergen’s former rival open to more NASCAR action in 2025

NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen's fellow competitor from his stint in the Repco Supercars championship recently hinted at his return to NASCAR. Former Supercars champion Will Brown made his Cup Series debut in the Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway earlier this year.

Will Brown secured the 2024 Supercars championship title piloting the #87 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Triple Eight Race Engineering. In 124 race starts in the competition, Brown has secured 9 race wins and 31 podium finishes. On the other hand, Three-time Supercars champion and a veteran in the series Shane van Gisbergen has secured 81 race wins and 176 podium finishes for the same team as Brown.

Van Gisbergen's Supercars rival's debut in the Cup Series ended with a P31 finish, piloting Richard Childress Racing's #33 Chevy. Unsatisfied with the result, Brown recently revealed his plans to return on NASCAR turf in the upcoming season for reportedly more than one appearance. In an episode of the Drivers Only podcast, Brown said (via John Newby on X):

"Hopefully, two NASCAR races I'd like to do. That's the plan. ...So I'll say one, but hopefully, two if the car's available. I guess Chicago's one I want to do, but a lot of the guys over there want to do it, so if a car's available, a team's available. So waiting to hear on that one."

Moreover, Brown suggested that he would be okay with competing in the Xfinity Series if space does not open up in NASCAR's premier division.

Meanwhile, Shane van Gisbergen finished his rookie full-time season in the Xfinity Series, piloting the #97 Chevy for Kaulig Racing. In 33 race starts, the Kiwi secured three trips to victory lane, and 7 top-five finishes. Van Gisbergen is set to compete in his rookie full-time season in the Cup Series next year, after securing a move to Trackhouse Racing, piloting their #88 Chevrolet.

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"I know there is a tough learning curve": Shane van Gisbergen sheds light on full-time move to Cup Series

Shane van Gisbergen was announced as a Trackhouse Racing driver earlier this year in August. Following his announcement, van Gisbergen shared his thoughts on the move to the Cup Series after a fairly successful rookie season in the Xfinity Series.

SVG's NASCAR debut was in the 2023 Chaicago Streert race, where he emerged victorious. In this year's campaign, the New Zealand native competed part-time in the Cup Series for Kaulig Racing, where he secured P2 as his best finish in the playoff race at Watkins Glen International.

A full-time move to the Cup Series is something van Gisebergen said he had 'planned for', and also appreciated Kaulig Racing's #97 Xfinity team for their hard work in the 2024 campaign.

“This is what I have planned for and I am ready,” said Van Gisbergen. "I know there is a tough learning curve ahead, but the best way to learn is to go out and do it. I 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.” Shane van Gisbergen said via motorsport.com

Catch SVG in action at the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray, scheduled for February 2nd, 2025, at 8:00 PM ET.