Red Bull’s bold colors are back in NASCAR, and the fans are here for it. The $21 billion energy drink giant, absent from the Cup Series since 2011, returns this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, adorning New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. For many, the reunion evokes memories of Red Bull’s past NASCAR glory. For others, it signals a fresh push to attract global eyeballs.
A three-time Australian Supercars champion, van Gisbergen once dominated under Red Bull’s banner. The Kiwi rookie aims to leverage that legacy in his quest for NASCAR credibility. But can a road course ace conquer Vegas’ unforgiving oval?
Red Bull Revs Up NASCAR Comeback With Shane van Gisbergen
The partnership, announced earlier this week, marks Red Bull’s first primary sponsorship in NASCAR since Kasey Kahne’s 2011 campaign. For van Gisbergen, it’s a full-circle moment: “2016 was my first year with the Red Bull team in Australia in Supercars. They won all the races, all the championships the years previous, so that’s all I wanted to do is to drive that car,” he said.
The livery mirrors his title-winning Australian ride, blending nostalgia with ambition. “Joining that team and winning the championship the first year was a dream come true.”
Well finally NASCAR's got Real sponsors I know chase has Amazon coming but all these other little one hit wonder sponsors nice to see a big boy.
— My Info The other DW (@Wilkywin) March 15, 2025
Fans flooded social media with praise. “Nice to see a big boy,” tweeted one user, contrasting Red Bull’s return with NASCAR’s recent reliance on smaller, niche brands.
Another called the No. 88’s design “glorious,” while others lamented its debut on an oval instead of a road course: “If only it was a Road Course. I want a race win version of this car BADLY.”
One other fan put it succinctly: “Its good to see Red Bull back at the track this year.”
Its good to see Red Bull back at the track this year
— That one guy you met that one time (@hinchee_d) March 14, 2025
Trackhouse Racing, known for its innovative PROJECT91 program, brokered the deal. Team founder Justin Marks called it “a huge win for our sport,” emphasizing Red Bull’s global reach. The energy drink giant will sponsor van Gisbergen in five races this season, including Sonoma and Daytona.
Van Gisbergen’s Oval Challenge and Red Bull’s NASCAR Vision
The NASCAR journey for van Gisbergen hinges on conquering ovals. Despite a sixth-place finish at COTA, his 22nd-place standing highlights struggles on speedways. Denny Hamlin, however, sees potential.
“Elite drivers can drive anything, and they will find a way to adapt to racing the machine that they’re in,” he said, recalling what his father used to say. “He just did a phenomenal job. Just with the little experience that he has doing that, he was holding a pretty damn steady line.”
Red Bull’s return aligns with NASCAR’s new media deals and younger demographic targets. The brand also backs 18-year-old phenom Connor Zilisch, signaling a long-term investment. For van Gisbergen, the pressure is twofold: deliver results and bridge motorsport cultures.
“Every week, even Atlanta a couple of weekends ago, I was learning something every lap. You just have to keep your eyes open and keep learning and trying to evolve,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, fans wonder if Red Bull’s gamble will pay off. The Las Vegas race offers minimal practice — a hurdle for a rookie still mastering stock cars. But as one fan wrote on X, “Hopefully Shane gives them some good runs.” For NASCAR, that might be victory enough.