Getty Image
When Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2017, he left behind an iconic legacy with a pair of car numbers — 8 and 88.
Earnhardt Jr. began his career in the No. 8 for his father’s team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, before moving over to Hendrick Motorsports, where he spent the final in the 10 years of his career in the No. 88.
It’s been four years since Hendrick Motorsports last ran the No. 88 with driver Alex Bowman, who has since driven the No. 48. But in 2025, the number is set to return with a new team and a new driver.
I was lucky to run a few numbers with so much rich history. Excited to see @shanevg97 and @TeamTrackhouse add a new chapter to it. 88 will have a good home there.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 24, 2024
Trackhouse Racing, which is owned in part by superstar rapper Pitbull, purchased the rights to the No. 88. The team announced Sunday that superstar prospect Shane van Gisbergen will take over the car in 2025.
“I was lucky to run a few numbers with so much rich history. Excited to see @shanevg97 and @TeamTrackhouse
add a new chapter to it. 88 will have a good home there,” Earnhardt Jr tweeted on Sunday amid the news of van Gisbergen taking over his old number.
Van Gisbergen, 35, took an uncommon route to NASCAR stardom. The New Zealander raced in the Australian Supercars Championship for several years, winning the series championship in both 2021 and 2022.
In 2023, he made his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series for Trackhouse at the Chicago Street Circuit. Van Gisbergen shocked the racing world, winning his first career star.
Just one month later, Trackhouse announced plans to sign him full-time.
Van Gisbergen currently races for Kaulig Racing, an affiliate of Trackhouse, in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He’s won three races already this season (all road courses) and locked himself into the series playoffs. He also holds a pair of top-10 finishes on ovals. Those includes a career-best oval finish of fourth at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Now van Gisbergen, often referred to as SVG, is stepping up to the big leagues. He joins Trackhouse teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez to form perhaps the sport’s most popular trio.
And it appears he has the full support of one of NASCAR’s most legendary drivers.