(Photo Source: Twitter.com/QuadLockCase)
Press Release | KAULIG RACING, TRACKHOUSE RACING
CONCORD, North Carolina – New Zealand three-time Supercars Champion Shane van Gisbergen is bringing his driving talents to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in America in 2024.
He’s also bringing along one of his most valued partners – Quad Lock.
The Melbourne, Australia based outdoor lifestyle brand enjoys global success selling its innovative and market leading phone mounting products in more than 100 countries around the world including America.
The Quad Lock Chevrolet and Van Gisbergen will make their first appearance June 1 at Portland (Ore.) International Raceway. The company will also serve as an associate sponsor with Van Gisbergen throughout the season.
“It’s pretty cool that Quad Lock is joining me in America,” said Van Gisbergen who makes his Xfinity Series debut on Feb. 17 at Daytona (Fla.) international Speedway.
“They joined me in Supercars in 2022 and neither of us ever dreamed we would be coming to America together to run in the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup Series. I hope NASCAR fans take a look at their products and come to rely on them as much as I do.”
Van Gisbergen, the winner of the inaugural Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR Cup Series debut in July, will race full-time in the Xfinity Series driving the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro with Kaulig Racing. The effort is part of an alliance with Trackhouse Racing.
Van Gisbergen will also race in a minimum of seven Cup Series races in 2024 with Kaulig.
The 34-year-old burst on the American scene when he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural Chicago Street race in July. Van Gisbergen became one of six foreign-born drivers to win a Cup Series race and the first driver since Johnny Rutherford in 1963 to win his first Cup Series start.
It was just the latest entry in a resume that includes three Supercars titles, 80 wins and 48 pole positions making him the fourth most successful driver in Supercars series history. He also won the Bathurst 1000, the premier race in Australia, in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks brought Van Gisbergen to NASCAR and Trackhouse last year as part of the team’s PROJECT91 program created to give international stars a chance to compete in the sport. Through PROJECT91, 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen raced in NASCAR in 2022 and 2023.
Van Gisbergen’s Chicago victory and 10th-place finish on the road course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Aug. 13 are his only two Cup Series starts. His only other NASCAR experience came Aug. 11 at Indianapolis Raceway Park where he made his paved oval career debut. He kept a lead lap position until the final few laps, finishing 19th.
The Auckland, New Zealand native moved to the United States in December and lives near the Trackhouse and Kaulig race shops.
Van Gisbergen joins a Kaulig Racing organization that has won two Cup races and 23 Xfinity races since the team’s inception in 2016. The Welcome, North Carolina team won the 2023 Bank of America ROVAL 400, as well as four Xfinity races with a variety of drivers. Van Gisbergen will join Kaulig Racing teammates Josh Williams, driver of the No. 11 Chevrolet and AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 in 2024 Xfinity season.
Van Gisbergen isn’t the only one entering NASCAR for the first time.
Quad Lock is thrilled to venture into the world of NASCAR as a primary sponsor,” said Dominic Storey, Quad Lock Sponsorship Manager.
“As Quad Lock continues its growth in the US market, the collaboration with Trackhouse Racing, Kaulig Racing and the inclusion of our brand ambassador, Shane van Gisbergen, presents a fantastic alignment for everyone involved. We eagerly anticipate achieving success together, both on and off the track in the coming future.”
The Quad Lock story began when its founder rode bikes on empty roads, explored mountains on foot, and deserts in the car. But they didn’t have total confidence taking their phones out there. So, they did something about it. A few years after the release of the first iPhone, Quad Lock was born. And a Kickstarter campaign in 2011 launched a premium iPhone mount – loved by cyclists worldwide. The range has since expanded to other pursuits, with enthusiasts all over the world exploring more with their phones securely in sight.
Quad Lock products withstand extreme weather, falls, and impact, featuring a patented dual-stage locking mechanism and secure mount tailored to each activity.
Van Gisbergen’s Xfinity series debut is set for Feb. 23 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. FS1 will broadcast the race live at 5 p.m. ET.