![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/586842599_18541272526017655_8511680033324961842_n.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen with his Red Bull-backed #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShane van Gisbergen with his Red Bull-backed #97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series.<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen has often cited his father, Robert van Gisbergen, as the original custodian of the number \u2013 but how did that come to be?<\/p>\n
\u2018Cheese\u2019 was a speedway racer and rally driver, and it was on the dirt ovals racing Sprintcars that the elder van Gisbergen came to run #97 on his car.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the Lighting Direct team run by Roger Davis. They had 96, 97 and 98 later on, and he was the 97 car,\u201d said van Gisbergen on KTM Summer Grill.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first year of speedway in quarter midgets, we painted the car up the same, so I just started with that number, and it was on in the year \u201897 as well. So it worked out pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen is best known for the number, but began his Supercars career in the #021 car with Team Kiwi Racing.<\/p>\n
When it began, the Supercars team was sponsored by Vodafone \u2013 and the #021 was a reference to the telco company\u2019s mobile phone number prefix.<\/p>\n
After Team Kiwi Racing van Gisbergen moved to Stone Brothers Racing he races for several years with #9 \u2013 a number he would reunite with in 2025 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Jr Motorsports.<\/p>\n
However, the #97 is what van Gisbergen is best known for, and one he holds close for its association to his family.<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen will switch to the #97 in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026, while newcomer Connor Zilisch takes over the #88.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a move that drew an emotional response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat Trackhouse video they put out summed it all up,\u201d said van Gisbergen.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing when Justin [Marks, Trackhouse CEO] texted me that a couple of months ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wanted to change a little bit. Daniel Suarez was the first driver at Trackhouse, and the #99 became his number. It was good to have a good refresh.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Justin first mentioned it to me, and he sent me a text about it and a picture attached with the car in Red Bull and WeatherTech colours with the #97 on it, I was pretty speechless.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows how much it means to me. It\u2019s cool to tell that story and to have that privilege, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Gisbergen said he is proud to have become synonymous with the number.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said this a couple of times lately, people get to know you as the number. You think #46 you think Valentino Rossi, #24 Jeff Gordon, and in Australia, it\u2019s #88, you think of Jamie Whincup.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo hopefully people think of #97 as me. It\u2019s great to have that as my identity. It\u2019s been my family race number since I started racing. So it\u2019s very, very special to have that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been on so many cars that I\u2019ve raced. When you see people with #97 merch. It means a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Get the latest NASCAR news, stats and betting insights at MotorRacing.com<\/a><\/p>\n