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Shane van Gisbergen gets emotional as Trackhouse announces number change for 2026 NASCAR season

JHby: Jonathan Howard10 hours agoJondean25
Shane van Gisbergen
Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

For the 2026 NASCAR season, Shane van Gisbergen is getting a new, old number back at Trackhouse Racing. Before his NASCAR career, the No. 97 was synonymous with SVG. Now, he brings it back for the Cup Series.

In a tribute to its three drivers, Trackhouse put together a few letters. They were from Justin Marks to Ross Chastain, Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Connor Zilisch, and Shane van Gisbergen’s dad wrote him a letter as well.

So, to get you up to speed, Zilisch is going to the No. 88, carrying on the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. after doing so much in that car this season in the Xfinity Series. Chastain is going back to the No. 1 car, of course. So, that leaves SVG with the No. 97 Chevy.

In the video Trackhouse Racing made, SVG got emotional while reading the letter. The No. 97 means a lot to his family and the history of his family in motorsports. Remembering his late mother, van Gisbergen couldn’t help but get teary-eyed. 2026 is going to be epic.

Shane van Gisbergen, Ross Chastain, and Connor Zilisch might be the most talented trio in the Cup Series outside of Hendrick, Joe Gibbs, and Penske. Let’s not forget that Chevy is getting a new body for the 2026 season, too. There will be growing pains, but ideally, this will help put the bowties back on par with Ford and Toyota in terms of downforce.

What more can Shane van Gisbergen do in 2026?

Five wins on five road courses in 2025, Shane van Gisbergen was the most successful rookie in the history of the Cup Series this year. You can’t deny the success he had on the road courses, which are just as much a part of the NASCAR schedule as any other track. It is something that will likely help define this era of racing.

SVG’s stats on the ovals don’t jump off the page. We know that. But they don’t have to. Looking at the end of his season, van Gisbergen’s P14 at Richmond, P10 at Kansas, and P14 at Martinsville were perhaps just a sign of what is to come in 2026. Let’s not kid ourselves, SVG is a world-class talent and he’s going to figure these ovals out sooner than later.

Martinsville is a track I think we could see SVG really excel at next season. He has run the fall race twice now and has finished P12 and P14. There is something about those short tracks that tends to translate earlier for guys like van Gisbergen. Likely due to the braking zones and things of that nature. It’s why AJ Allmendinger is pretty good at Bristol.

Next year, Shane van Gisbergen is back in the 97 car. He’s won championships in that car, and he’s hoping to keep that going in 2026. Ironically enough, his 19-year-old teammate is likely his biggest competition on the road courses next year. That should be a thrill to watch.