Red Bull sponsoring Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch in 25 races during 2026 season. Image supplied by Trackhouse

NASCAR News: Red Bull sponsoring Shane van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch in 25 races during 2026 season

Trackhouse Racing announced that Red Bull will serve as a primary partner for drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch for 25 races during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. Red Bull will also serve as the official energy drink of Trackhouse Racing, continuing the partnership that Trackhouse launched at the beginning of 2025.

Zilisch will first sport the iconic Red Bull colors February 15 in the Daytona 500 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, making the Red Bull athlete the youngest competitor to enter the Daytona 500 since Joey Logano in 2009 at the age of 18 years old. Six-time Cup Series winner van Gisbergen will be behind the wheel of the Red Bull Chevrolet for the first time in 2026 one week later at EchoPark (Hampton, Ga.) Speedway on February 22.

The striking 2026 Red Bull paint schemes feature a timeless matte dark blue base, elevated by shimmering accents that outline the cars’ numbers to exude a bold and commanding presence on track. Van Gisbergen’s No. 97 Chevrolet showcases dynamic red rays streaking from the lower front tire to the upper rear, sharply contrasting Zilisch’s No. 88, which displays bold blue rays sweeping across both sides of the car.

Both van Gisbergen and Zilisch recently caught a first glimpse of their striking new 2026 numbers, proudly showcased in the iconic Red Bull livery.

“It means a lot to have the number No. 97 on my Cup car,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s a number that means so much to my family and me, so to see it on my car for the first time was surreal. I love the red flash designs on both sides of the car. It’s going to look epic on the track.”

Zilisch was impressed seeing his number for the first time.

“It’s so cool to be driving No. 88 in the Cup Series,” Zilisch said. “The number is historic and so many great drivers have driven it. I certainly have big shoes to fill but I can’t wait to get the season started. I love the blue streaks across the side of car. The dark matte blue allows the light blue streaks to pop. I’m excited to have it on track next year.”

Red Bull and Trackhouse Racing’s first season as partners was monumental. Van Gisbergen and Zilisch had standout 2025 NASCAR rookie seasons, with a total of 16 wins across the Cup Series and Xfinity Series.

Van Gisbergen has quickly become one of NASCAR’s most dominant road course racers with a record setting performance since joining the Cup Series fulltime. The Red Bull athlete collected five Cup Series wins, the most by a rookie in a single season. His first win of the season being the inaugural Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, making him a two-time inaugural Cup Series winner (Chicago Street Race in 2023).

The New Zealand native’s third win of the season came in dominant fashion at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway where van Gisbergen started from the pole position and led 97 of 110 laps, driving the iconic Red Bull colors back to victory lane for the first time since 2011. Van Gisbergen’s Sonoma win made him the first driver since Jeff Gordon to win three consecutive road course Cup Series races from the pole.

Van Gisbergen became the fastest driver to five career Cup Series wins since Dan Gurney in 1968 after capturing the checkered flag at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, collecting his fourth win of his rookie season. Van Gisbergen’s masterclass road course season sealed his NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors.

The 2025 season was remarkably successful for Zilisch, who placed second in the NASCAR Xfinity Series final driver standings. In addition to locking into the Championship 4, Zilisch had 10 victories in 32 starts, including nine wins in the last 18 races. He became the first Xfinity Series driver since the Playoff format was introduced to capture the regular season title despite missing a race. His four sequential victories tied him for most consecutive victories all-time with Sam Ard and Noah Gragson.

Zilisch won more races and more poles (8) than any other Xfinity Series driver in 2025. He captured Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in record breaking style. Zilisch rewrote the record book for a first-year driver by establishing new marks for wins, top-five finishes (20) and races led (27).

Red Bull served as the primary partner for Zilisch’s NASCAR Cup Series debut on March 2 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. He went on to make two more Cup Series starts at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway (May 25) and at EchoPark Speedway (June 28).

To add to a remarkable season, Trackhouse Racing and Red Bull partnered for a unique opportunity this past July at the Goodwood Festival of Speed held annually at Goodwood House, West Sussex, England. The event is an annual motorsports festival featuring modern and historic motor racing vehicles taking part in a hill climb and other events. Justin Marks, Trackhouse Racing’s owner and himself a former driver, piloted the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet in the prestigious event with guest driving appearance by Red Bull athlete and professional driver ‘Mad’ Mike Whiddett.  Trackhouse Racing PR